UNMIK/PR/1732
PRISTINA – The Republic of Serbia today purported to conduct Serbian local elections in Kosovo. The Serbian authorities conducted these elections in the full knowledge that they were acting in defiance of UNMIK’s exclusive mandate to authorize elections in Kosovo under UN Security Council resolution 1244.
In response, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) Joachim Rücker remarked: “Those ‘local elections’, their outcomes, and the Serbian municipal institutions for which they purported to elect representatives are all without legal standing or effect in Kosovo. Illegal elections cannot have legal consequences. Their outcome will not be recognized. UNMIK will continue to deal exclusively with the legitimate municipal governments in all parts of Kosovo, and with the legitimate representatives of those municipalities.”
On 10 April 2008 and again on 16 April 2008, SRSG Rücker informed the authorities of the Republic of Serbia that he would not authorize the conduct of Serbian local elections on the territory of Kosovo, since the calling and organization of such elections would not be consistent with his mandate under resolution 1244.
UNMIK regrets that the Republic of Serbia chose to ignore the terms of resolution 1244 and that it proceeded without United Nations authorization. The Republic of Serbia’s actions contradicted its statements of respect for the SRSG’s exclusive authority in the area of elections, and its repeated public expressions of support for full implementation and respect for resolution 1244.
The SRSG expressed his appreciation to the people of Kosovo who displayed their maturity today by remaining calm and supporting the maintenance of public order.
