Kosovo releases preliminary results for local elections

Central Election Commission of Kosovo (CIK) reported Monday preliminary results of yesterday's local elections vote, but did not disclose data on results, or possible annulment and repetition of the vote in 4 municipalities on the North of Kosovo, demanded by Serbian officials, local media reported. After counting some 90 percents of the votes for total of 39 Municipalities in the province, CIK announced that in 10 of their mayors have been elected in the first round, while in 24 municipalities second round is necessary, no data has been given on results in 4 municipalities in the North of province. In the Serb dominated North, low turnout and numerous irregularities and incidents marked the election day. Voting passed in high tensions and in town of Mitrovica, a group of masked extremists stormed voting poll in Sveti Sava elementary school, breaking the voting boxes, and harassing the election staff. Serbian officials in Belgrade condemned the violence blaming extreme right wing political parties and organizations as perpetrators, and asked for repetition of the vote in the municipalities in the North of Kosovo. However, Kosovo Central Election Commission declined to make clear on this. Chief of delegation of EU to Serbia Michael Davenport and Minister for EU integration in Serbian government Branko Ruzic jointly condemned the election violence: "It is of great importance that all the sides, including Belgrade and Prisitina continue to implement the Brussels agreement," said Davenport at the press conference in Belgrade, stressing that EU and OSCE Mission to Kosovo will soon give their opinion about the regularity of election process in Kosovo. Brussels agreement made between Belgrade and Pristina in April 2013 in EU headquarters provided that Serbs participate in local elections organized by Pristina in exchange for being allowed to form Association of Serbian Municipalities which shall have extensive authorities in areas of self government, economic development, health, education and local policing. November local elections in Kosovo are the first to be participated by Kosovo Serbs since the province unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia refuses to accept Kosovo's independence.