Osmani: The mayors of the northern municipalities should be sworn in within the legal deadlines

2023-05-19 17:05:37, Kosova & Bota CNA

Osmani: The mayors of the northern municipalities should be sworn in within the

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, said on Friday that it is important that the new mayors of the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo take the oath within the legal deadlines.

The municipalities in the north, North Mitrovica, Leposaviçi, Zveçani and Zubin PotokU, are inhabited by a majority of Serbs.

A few hours after the swearing in of Erden Atiç, as the mayor of North Mitrovica, Osmani said that the mayors of that part must convince the citizens that the projects will be in their best interest.

"Administrative services are in their favor, security is in their favor. Economic projects empower them, so each action is for the benefit of the citizens and not the opposite, and we expect all these procedures to go without any problems and without any tension".

According to the president, holding elections in April this year was a legal and constitutional obligation.

"What pushed this situation was the resignation of the former mayors of the municipalities in the north", said Osmani, adding that the boycott of the elections by the members of the Serbian community was not voluntary, but forced by the president of Serbia, Aleksandër Vucic.

"...and it has been implemented by his illegal and criminal structures in the north of Kosovo, which have constantly intimidated, blackmailed and threatened Serbian citizens in the north".

The new mayors, all from the Albanian parties, were elected in the elections held in April, in the northern municipalities - inhabited by a majority of Serbs - after the resignations of the previous mayors, as a sign of dissatisfaction with the decision of the Government of Kosovo to re-register illegal Serbian cars in RKS - Republic of Kosovo.

A good part of the citizens have boycotted this election process.

According to the data of the Central Electoral Commission, 1,567 voters or 3.47 percent of the electoral body participated in the elections.

The calls for a boycott were made by Lista Serbe - the main party of Serbs in Kosovo - which enjoys the support of official Belgrade.

On Friday, the QUINT states expressed their concern over local elections held in northern Kosovo on April 23, saying they do not constitute a long-term sustainable political solution for the municipalities involved, due to a boycott by the Serbian community.

QUINT consists of the United States, France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Through a joint statement, these states have called on all actors "to urgently work together with all interested parties, including local communities, towards a solution that ensures stable, representative and participatory democracy in these municipalities". ./ REL