Possible new conflict between Belgrade and EU over Kosovo

Apr 1, 2010, 15:59 GMT

Belgrade/Pristina - Serbia and the European Union are heading for a new conflict over Belgrade's plans to organize local elections in northern Kosovo, where most of the territory's Serbian minority lives.

Serbian authorities plan to hold elections for municipal representatives on May 30, around the same time as Pristina plans its local elections across Kosovo.

The International Civilian Representative in Kosovo, Pieter Feith, said he would not recognize the results of the Serb vote and focus on the elections 'held under Pristina's authority.'

Feith's comments angered Serbian officials, already upset over Pristina and ICR's 'strategy for the north' - a plan to bring northern areas under the control of Pristina.

The state secretary in Serbia's Ministry for Kosovo, Oliver Ivanovic, told local media that Serbia is 'not asking for his (Feith's) support or approval for the elections.'

'He does not exists for us neither as an organisation nor as a person,' Ivanovic said, adding that Feith 'discredited' himself when he decided to bring northern areas under Pristina's control, a strategy Serbia and Serbs living in northern Kosovo rejected.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and was recognized by 65 countries, including the United States and majority of European Union states. Serbia opposes it.