Belgrade: Openly defying UNMIK’s opposition, the Serbian Government in a session in Belgrade yesterday decided to hold local elections in Kosovo on May 11, despite UNMIK’s opposition.

Predrag Bubalo, DSS minister of trade and services in the caretaker government stated that the talks between Belgrade and the UN mission in Kosovo are still going on, but that the final decision on holding the elections in Kosovo has been made.

Bubalo stated that the decision was unanimous and no member of the cabinet expressed any dilemma on this issue. “Whatever UNMIK’s answer may be, elections will be held in Kosovo and Metohija,” Bubalo said.

According to Bubalo, the government yesterday adopted a draft of an agreement that UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker should sign with Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic. The govt. also passed a strategic document on international aid.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Delic, DS, said the draft to be offered to UNMIK envisages regulation of relations in the areas of police, customs, judiciary and healthcare. It is similar to an agreement signed between the two sides in 2001.

On the other side, UNMIK, the International Steering Group for Kosovo and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Pristina yesterday said that they were against Belgrade’s plans to hold local elections in Kosovo.