Pending election boycott may threaten Kosovo’s future

A planned boycott of Kosovo’s 23 October
parliamentary elections by the minority Serbs could leave the
province’s future in doubt.

The prospect of a Serb boycott of Kosovo’s
scheduled 23 October regional parliamentary elections is
looming large, threatening the formation of a
coalition government that could negotiate with the
international community over Kosovo’s final status.
The negotiations on whether Kosovo can be declared an
independent state are expected to take place in
2005, and the government to be formed after the elections
will have a key role to play in the process.

The Serbian province of Kosovo has a 90 per cent
ethnic Albanian population, with an unemployment rate of
56 per cent. Kosovo has been under UN administration
since 1999. Four major parties are contesting the
elections, with no single party expected to win a clear
majority. 

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has called
on the province’s ten per cent Serbian minority
to boycott the vote, arguing that they are denied basic
human rights and live under constant threat from the
majority Albanians. The Serbian Orthodox Church shares
Kostunica’s view. Meanwhile, Serbian President Boris
Tadic urges ethnic Serbs to vote, on condition that
internationally recognised home rule is established in
Kosovo 90 days after the inauguration of the newly
elected government.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has urged
Belgrade to promote the Kosovo Serbs’ participation
in the elections. On the broader issue of Kosovo’s
future status, the EU has yet to reach consensus.

Meanwhile, 360 French soldiers have parachuted into
Kosovo to reinforce the NATO-led peacekeeping
mission there. The aim is to prevent ethnic violence in
the period leading up to the elections.

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