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The US Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Michael Carpenter, said that Kosovo and Serbia must ensure that the citizens of both countries are able to exercise their right to vote, while underlining that Kosovo is a sovereign right. determine the conditions under which other sovereign states may hold elections in its territory.
Ambassador Carpenter made these comments talking about the referendum on constitutional changes that took place in Serbia on January 16, but which was not allowed to be held in Serb-majority areas in Kosovo.
He said the United States welcomes the referendum in Serbia in which constitutional changes related to justice system reform were adopted.
Prior to the referendum, the United States joined European partners in urging all Serb citizens to participate, he said.
“Let us be clear about the position of the United States on the right of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state to determine the conditions under which elections of other sovereign states would take place in its territory. “We had hoped that the Kosovo government would continue the previous practice of allowing the OSCE to collect ballots of voters living in Kosovo, but it chose not to do so,” said Ambassador Carpenter.
The US Ambassador said that discussions will be held with the Government of Kosovo and the Government of Serbia to ensure that “citizens residing in Kosovo and Serbia are able to exercise their right to participate in their country’s elections. and in doing so, be able to determine their European future ”.
He said that it is unfortunate that Kosovo is not a member of the OSCE “and therefore is not able to speak for itself today. “We can not wait for the day when Kosovo is a participating state of this organization and this can happen”, he said, underlining the calls for the governments of both countries to refrain from actions and rhetoric that increase tensions and to engage constructively in the talks. facilitated by the European Union. “It is important that both governments make progress toward a comprehensive agreement that enhances regional stability.”
Authorities in Kosovo did not allow Serbia to hold a referendum despite calls from Western diplomats, saying it violated the Kosovo Constitution.
Authorities said Serb citizens with dual citizenship could vote by post or by Serbia’s liaison office in Pristina.
Kosovo has not prevented local Serbs from participating in Serbia’s elections, but authorities say there is a difference between elections and a country’s internal affairs, such as Sunday’s referendum in Serbia.
Serbia is expected to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in early April. Kosovo institutions have warned that they will not allow their detention within the territory of Kosovo.
Belgrade continues to oppose Kosovo’s independence, which was declared in February 2008 with the support of the United States and the European Union, but has been involved in a negotiation process to normalize relations in exchange for European integration./VOA
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