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KOSOVO, A FURTHER STEP TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE (19.11.2007)
(2007-11-19)
Last updated: 2007-11-20 14:21 EET Print
Saturday’s parliamentary election in Kosovo, was won by those supporting the proclamation of independence. Kosovo is an officially Serbian province but it has been under UN administration since 1999, when NATO intervened militarily against Belgrade for having unleashed repression in the region. The result of the election was predictable, since all parties of the ethnic Albanians, who are now accounting for 90% of the population stood for independence. Securing most cast votes in the election, that is around 34%, is the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo, led by Hashim Thaci, former leader of the ethnic Albanian guerrillas, who fought against Belgrade. The main party in the ruling government coalition, the Democratic League of Kosovo got only 22% of the votes, far less than the 45 percentage points secured in the previous election held in 2004. Our correspondent in Pristina, Cristina Dumitrescu has the details. ”As all parties failed to win the majority vote in the parliamentary election, the next step that should be taken is setting up a government coalition. Although it may seem difficult to imagine, the two old political rivals, the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Democratic Party of Kosovo might form a coalition.” Cristina Dumitrescu tells us more about how Saturday’s polls was organised. ”International observers which are part of a mission led by the Council of Europe didn’t notice major irregularities in the election process, but they drew attention to the fact that the low turnout of the Kosovan Albanians was a result of their being disappointed by politicians, who are corrupt, and who take little interest in solving the citizens’ daily problems. International observers claim that Kosovan Serbs didn’t go to the polls because they had been threatened by the authorities in Belgrade and by local Serbian leaders.” Albanian political leaders have reiterated that their ultimate desideratum is the proclamation of independence, which is due to happen shortly after December the 10th. Belgrade’s reaction was predictable. Serbia does not allow for a new state to be created on its territory and does not accept a situation which runs counter to the principles of international law-said Serbian president Boris Tadic. Everyone should understand that this might set a dangerous precedent in the region and might even put in jeopardy political and economic stability in the world- Tadic also said. Romanian president Traian Basescu has once again reiterated that the future of the Kosovo province should be established only through negotiations and a solution should be found within the limits of international law, which guarantees the inviolability of borders.

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