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SERBS REJECT KOSOVO ALBANIAN RULE IN REFERENDUM
Noyan Tapan
2012-02-17
Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo have rejected rule by the territory's
ethnic Albanian majority, in a referendum criticised by Serbia and
the EU.
Kosovo Serb officials said 99.7% of voters said "no" to the Kosovo
government in Pristina.
About 90% of Kosovo's population is ethnic Albanian, but Serbs dominate
a northern area bordering on Serbia.
Kosovo Serbs have ignored Pristina's decisions and obstructed the EU
and Nato law and order mission in Kosovo.
Correspondents say the two-day referendum may complicate Serbia's
efforts to develop a dialogue with the Pristina authorities and to
further the Serbian bid to join the EU.
Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 is not
recognised by Belgrade.
The Kosovo parliament in Pristina denounced the Serbs' referendum
this week in a resolution, saying it "does not produce any legally
and politically binding effect and as such is not valid".
Kosovo has about 120,000 ethnic Serbs, of whom 40,000 live in the
north and the rest in scattered enclaves to the south, AFP news
agency reports.
Serbian President Boris Tadic said the referendum was harmful to
Serbia's interests.
Noyan Tapan
2012-02-17
Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo have rejected rule by the territory's
ethnic Albanian majority, in a referendum criticised by Serbia and
the EU.
Kosovo Serb officials said 99.7% of voters said "no" to the Kosovo
government in Pristina.
About 90% of Kosovo's population is ethnic Albanian, but Serbs dominate
a northern area bordering on Serbia.
Kosovo Serbs have ignored Pristina's decisions and obstructed the EU
and Nato law and order mission in Kosovo.
Correspondents say the two-day referendum may complicate Serbia's
efforts to develop a dialogue with the Pristina authorities and to
further the Serbian bid to join the EU.
Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 is not
recognised by Belgrade.
The Kosovo parliament in Pristina denounced the Serbs' referendum
this week in a resolution, saying it "does not produce any legally
and politically binding effect and as such is not valid".
Kosovo has about 120,000 ethnic Serbs, of whom 40,000 live in the
north and the rest in scattered enclaves to the south, AFP news
agency reports.
Serbian President Boris Tadic said the referendum was harmful to
Serbia's interests.