Quint urges PM Kurti to allow Kosovo Serbs vote in referendum as in the past practices

English

Gazeta Express

14/01/2022 12:55

A day after the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on Kosovo authorities to allow Kosovo Serbs vote in Serbia’s referendum, QUINT (France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States) urged the Government of Kosovo to enable Serbs exercise their right to vote in Serbia’s referendum, Gazeta Express reports.

According to QUINT Kosovo should allow Serbs in Kosovo to exercise their right to vote in elections and electoral processes in accordance with this established practice. In a joint press release QUINT said that they noted with regret that the Kosovo government has not allowed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to collect ballots of eligible voters living in Kosovo for the upcoming referendum in accordance with past practice. “We call on the Kosovo government to allow Serbs in Kosovo to exercise their right to vote in elections and electoral processes in accordance with this established practice,” according to the joint statement.

QUINT calls upon the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from actions and rhetoric that increase tensions and to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue. “It is important that both governments achieve progress towards a comprehensive agreement that unlocks the EU perspective and increases regional stability,” it is written in the press release.

Read full statement below:

France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States (QUINT) and the European Union welcome Serbia’s January 16 national referendum on constitutional changes as a key step to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of the country’s rule of law institutions. We believe that these reforms are a step forward towards Serbia’s alignment with European standards and will support Serbia’s EU accession process. 

We have encouraged all Serbian citizens to take part in the referendum and believe it important for eligible voters to be able to vote in elections and referenda.  We note with regret that the Kosovo government has not allowed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to collect ballots of eligible voters living in Kosovo for the upcoming referendum in accordance with past practice. We call on the Kosovo government to allow Serbs in Kosovo to exercise their right to vote in elections and electoral processes in accordance with this established practice. 

We call upon the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from actions and rhetoric that increase tensions and to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue.  It is important that both governments achieve progress towards a comprehensive agreement that unlocks the EU perspective and increases regional stability.