Belgrade: It’s now crystal clear that Serbia is determined to hold local elections in Kosovo on 11 May, 2008, despite strong opposition from UNMIK and UN. The Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) has fabricated rules on the commission’s structure for holding municipal elections in Kosovo.

According to reports from Belgrade, RIK will hold elections for councilors in municipal assembles in Kosovo, and for councilors in the Pristina parliament in a separate structure in each municipality, made up of a permanent and extended staff. RIK has also adopted the Serb Radical Party’s list for councilors in the municipalities of Kosovska Mitrovica and Zvecan.

Since RIK took the decision to hold local elections in Kosovo on May 11 about ten days ago, the situation is very tense in the region. UNMIK opposes the Belgrade authorities holding local elections in Kosovo on the grounds that it would be a contravention of Resolution 1244.