Kosovo Serbs vote against Pristina's rule in symbolic move

Feb 15, 2012, 22:53 GMT

Belgrade - Serbs in Kosovo voted to reject the authority of the government in Pristina over their enclave in a symbolic two-day referendum that ended Wednesday, according to a local leader.

The vote, which has no legal effect, was in clear defiance of the West and Belgrade, which is trying to court acceptance of Serbia as a membership candidate by the European Union.

More than 99 per cent of those who voted in the Serb enclave in northern Kosovo said they reject the authority of the government in Pristina, said one of the local leaders, Krstimir Pantic, the Serbian national television RTS reported.

The turnout among the 35,500 voters in the four municipalities that are dominated by Serbs in mainly Albanian Kosovo was around 75 per cent, Pantic said.

The referendum will have no legal effect, as it will not be recognized by the international community - which maintains UN, EU and NATO missions in Kosovo - nor by Pristina or even Serbian-dominated Belgrade.

The referendum was organized despite criticism from the West and Serbia, where President Boris Tadic said it was harmful to national interests, most of all Serbia's ambition to begin moving towards EU membership.

Kosovo formally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Although the United States and most EU nations recognized it, Serbia continues to insist that Kosovo is still its province.

Serbia has vowed never to reconcile with the loss of Kosovo, but agreed to hold talks with the former province under EU facilitation, with the aim of resolving problems stemming from the row over secession.

The talks began 11 months ago, but Kosovo Serbs have rejected them and promised to prevent the implementation of any agreement of Belgrade and Pristina.

They maintain road barricades since July to prevent Kosovo officers from taking control over border crossings between the enclave and Serbia proper. The roadblocks remain despite urging from Belgrade for their removal.

The referendum was another blow to Belgrade, which has hoped to be recognized as an EU membership candidate in December. Brussels delayed the decision until March, giving more time to Serbia to normalize the situation in northern Kosovo. That time has now almost run out.

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