Hundreds of Kosovo Albanians demonstrated on Friday in the capital Pristina, protesting against upcoming Serbian elections in Kosovo.
Protesters threw bags full of garbage to the buildings of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the Kosovo government because of their neutral stance over the Serbian Sunday general and local elections, which will be held also in Serb-dominated areas of Kosovo despite Kosovo's declaration of independence on Feb. 17.
Protesters carried various banners suggesting that Kosovo's leaders have submitted to a political course that is not in Kosovo's interest. They also removed the new Kosovo flag from one of Pristina's streets and substituted it with the Albanian national flag.
The demonstration was organized by the Self-determination Movement, which called UNMIK and Kosovo government as the "biggest receptacles" in Kosovo.
Self-determination Movement leader Albin Kurti said the protest is not against international community, but it's against parallel structures in Kosovo.
"We want international community to be in an advising role, not governing Kosovo," said Kurti.
The Self-determination Movement, which has radically opposed the process of Kosovo's final status settlement and has called for direct self-determination for Kosovo's people, is now focusing on post-status developments. The organization has voiced fears about a possible partition of Kosovo.
International and local authorities in Kosovo have indicated that the Serbian parliamentary vote may be extended to Kosovo, on the basis of dual citizenship, but have condemned the Serbian authorities' intention to hold municipal polls. However, they have indicated that they will not use force to prevent the municipal polls from being held.
The UNMIK chief Joachim Rucker said Friday that Serbia's local elections in Kosovo are unacceptable.
"They are against 1244 (UN) Resolution, and its aim is to create parallel, illegal and illegitimate structures in Kosovo," said Rucker.
Kosovo institutions oppose Serbian elections in Kosovo, demanding from the UNMIK to convince Serb community not to organize them in Kosovo.
Source: Xinhua
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