Djuric: Rakic's victory - confirmation of state policy

BELGRADE - The mayoral election victory of the candidate of the Citizens' Initiative Srpska (GI Srpska), Goran Rakic, in northern Kosovska Mitrovica confirms that Serbia's state policy enjoys support among citizens in Kosovo-Metohija (KiM), member of the Presidency of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Marko Djuric said on Monday.

Djuric told the Belgrade-based broadcaster B92 that Rakic's victory was secured in the first round on Sunday in very difficult circumstances, with a relatively high voter turnout which shows that a high level of unity had been achieved within the Serbian community.

The Serbian government, which has been led by the SNS in the last year and a half, invested a huge effort in strengthening the position of Serbs in KiM, he said.

The victory declared by Rakic, who is a member of the SNS, also implies support for the party in realizing state and national goals, including the formation of a community of Serb municipalities (ZSO) in KiM, Djuric underlined.

The formation of this community was envisaged by the Belgrade-Pristina agreement on the normalization of relations which was accepted in Brussels, he noted, adding that now, when local elections in KiM are over, efforts should be invested in the establishment of this community.

The community of Serb municipalities should have strong institutions that will protect the rights and interests of Serbs in KiM, and will have "full financial, logistic and any other support of the government in Belgrade," Djuric concluded.

Photo Tanjug/F. Kraincanic (archive)