Balkans

Vučić to discuss elections with Kosovo Serbs

BELGRADE -- Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić said on Tuesday that he would meet with representatives of Serbs in Kosovo discuss elections called there for June 8.

GRACANICA - The Serbian government will do everything in coordination with the EU and other international partners to enable the return of the Serbs who were forced out of their homes in Kosovo, but also to ensure that those living in Kosovo enjoy the maximum economic, political and human rights, head of the Serbian government office for Kosovo Marko Djuric has said.

BELGRADE - Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic thanked UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia Irena Vojackova-Solorano and head of the UN Office in Belgrade Peter Due for UN assistance to Serbia during the recent catastrophic floods.

Northern mayor against participation in elections

ZUBIN POTOK -- Zubin Potok Mayor Stevan Vulović has said that it was his "personal stance" that Serbs should not take part in the election in Kosovo scheduled for June 8.

British minister: Serbs should participate in elections

BELGRADE -- President Tomislav Nikolić said on Monday that the government will take "a joint stance on whether to invite Serbs in Kosovo to vote in the June 8 elections."

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said in a meeting with British Minister for Europe David Lidington on Monday that the government of Serbia will take a joint stance on whether to invite Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) to vote in the June 8 elections, considering the questionable conditions under which the citizens would vote and what they would gain from it.

BELGRADE - The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) urged on Monday all Serbs and other non-Albanians not to cast their ballot in the Kosovo elections set for June 8, as in that way they would contribute to the completion of a non-existing state -Kosovo.

BELGRADE - Zorana Mihajlovic, Serbia's deputy prime minister and minister of construction and infrastructure, said on Monday that, in 10 days' time, authorities will get a final and clear picture of the damage that local self-governments sustained during the recent severe flash floods, noting that the repair of the critical infrastructure and return of the people to their homes before winter co

BELGRADE - Head of the Serbian parliament committee on Kosovo Milovan Drecun believes Pristina is interpreting the election law in Kosovo in a way that is unacceptable in order to discourage the Kosovo Serbs from voting in the election on June 8.

Serbia to preside "in significant year for OSCE"

BELGRADE -- (OSCE) Secretary-General Lamberto Zannier has said that 2015, the year of Serbia's presidency over the organization, "will be significant."

The reason for this is the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, he said.