(Pristina) Kosovo on Saturday banned the holding on its territory of a referendum on justice organized by Serbia, which wanted to involve the Serbs living in its former province, a decision which could stir up tensions.
Posted at 3:48 p.m.
The Serbs are called to speak on Sunday on constitutional changes supposed to make the justice of the country more independent, a reform demanded within the framework of the negotiations for accession to the European Union.
Kosovo, a former predominantly Albanian southern Serbian province, proclaimed its independence in 2008, never recognized by Serbia. Belgrade maintains close relations with some 100,000 Serbs living in Kosovo, many of whom refuse the authority of the government in Pristina.
The conduct of a referendum by a foreign country is a “violation of the Constitution and sovereignty of Kosovo”, says a resolution adopted by the Kosovo Parliament. Members of the Serbian community boycotted the vote.
Contrary to the practice during previous elections organized by Serbia, this time there will be no polling stations in the areas mainly populated by Serbs. Serbs, on the other hand, are authorized to vote by post and only in a liaison office of the Serbian government, explained Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
The Kosovar police on Tuesday prevented the entry into Kosovo of two trucks carrying the ballots.
The Western powers in a statement on Friday encouraged Serbs to vote in this referendum and called on Pristina to “allow Serbs to exercise their right to vote”.
Tensions remain high between Serbs and Kosovars more than two decades after the 1998-1999 war that pitted Albanian rebels against the regime of Slobodan Milosevic.
The normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is crucial for their rapprochement with the European bloc.
The independence of Kosovo has been recognized by a hundred countries, including the United States and most of the countries of the European Union, but not by Russia and China, which prevent recognition of the territory by the United Nations.