Serb politicians call for single list of Serb candidates

PRISTINA - Serb politicians in Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) have begun preparations for participation in the early parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in the province on June 8, despite being concerned about the very close deadline for registration and certification of candidates for members in the Kosovo assembly.

Officials of Serb parties in KiM and parties fin central Serbia believe that it is vital for the Serbs in KiM to set up a single list of candidates for assembly members, but add that if no such agreement is reached, the Serb people in KiM should still be given chance to choose between several options.

Slavisa Petkovic, an MP for two terms in the Kosovo assembly, former minister of returns and leader of the Serbian Social Democratic Party, has told Tanjug that the party believes it would be ideal for the Serbs in Kosovo that a single Serb candidates list be created.

“If this does not happen, we find it desirable and realistic to offer the Serbs in Kosovo a chance to choose between several options,” Petkovic said.

Goran Bogdanovic, a New Democratic Party (NDS) MP in the Serbian parliament, has said that the NDS believes the Serbs in KiM should go out to the polls and vote in the early elections for the Kosovo assembly, just as they did during the local elections in KiM in December last year.

“We believe that it is good for the Serb people in KiM that we participate with a single list, but in case there is no agreement on that, the NDS will cooperate with Serb political actors in Kosovo-Metohija to create a list and take part in the elections with the aim of protecting the interests of the Serbs in the province,” Bogdanovic said.

Nenad Rasic, Kosovo minister of labor and social...