Community of Municipalities of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija
The Community of Municipalities of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija ( Serbian Заједница општина Аутономне покрајине Косово и Метохија Zajednica opština is a political representative within the Kosovo governing body of the Kosovo i Metohija on May 11th, as a result of the parliamentary elections of the Kosovo and Metohija parliament on May 11th 2008 of the Serbian citizens resident in Kosovo was constituted.
The Kosovar government and the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) consider the organized elections on the basis of which the community was constituted to be illegal.
background
On February 17, 2008, the parliament in Pristina declared independence from Serbia. A few days earlier, the Serbian parliament declared the announced declaration of independence as null and void, as it violated the Serbian constitution and UN resolution 1244 . The resolution ensures the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, whose legal successor has been the Republic of Serbia since the detachment of Montenegro in 2006. The UNMIK adopted the Declaration of Independence note and declared it neither legitimate nor illegitimate. The efforts of the promoters of independence to gain recognition under international law continue. Meanwhile, the leadership in Serbia, with the support of the Russian Federation, is in favor of renewed negotiations.
status
The status of the community and its parliament is controversial both within Kosovo and internationally:
The administrative structures of the community are accepted in northern Kosovo and in Serbian-dominated enclaves by the absolute majority of Serbs and Roma , some Gorans , Bosniaks , Slavic Muslims , a few Albanians and other minorities. Through this new parliament, the Republic of Serbia is laying claim to the entire territory of Kosovo represented in UN resolution 1244, but has only civil and administrative control over northern Kosovo and the political support of the Serbian enclaves in the south.
By contrast, the parliament in Pristina and those states that regard Kosovo as an independent state do not recognize the community as the legitimate representation of Kosovo.
2008 elections
Local elections and elections for the Serbian parliament in Belgrade took place on May 11, 2008 as part of the parliamentary elections in Serbia in 2008 , after the previous elections organized by UNMIK from Pristina had been boycotted by many Serbian citizens. The elections in May went without major complications, apart from minor disruptions. The UNMIK did not recognize them, but did not intervene either. The SRS and the DSS- NS coalition emerged as the strongest parties in the election.
houses of Parliament
From the perspective of Serbia, the legitimacy of the previous parliament in Pristina expired with the declaration of independence in February 2008. The new parliament, which was elected with the tolerance of UNMIK in the Serbian local elections held in Kosovo on May 11, 2008, has represented in the Serbian view since June 28, 2008 the Serbian Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (“Cosmet”). Parliament has limited sovereignty and cannot legislate. However, it can submit bills to the Serbian parliament and pass resolutions that affect the Serbian citizens of Kosovo and thus forms a common mouthpiece for the Serbian argument about the status of the disputed territory.
The parliament has 45 seats for MPs who were elected in the Serbian local elections held on May 11, 2008. In fact, the Serbian government for Kosovo only represents and exerts influence on the Serbian-inhabited areas in the north, as in individual Serbian enclaves in the rest of Kosovo, which are made up of 26 municipalities ( Serbian општине / opštine ).
The current seat of parliament is the northern part of the city of Kosovska Mitrovica , but it regards Pristina as the capital of the autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia and thus also its legal seat.
Local political implications
Since the elections, there have been two competing mayors and local administrations in several communities in Kosovo , predominantly inhabited by Serbs , who mutually deny each other's legitimacy.
Relationship to international communities
The community accepts the presence of the UNMIK set up by the United Nations , but refuses to cooperate with the European Union's rule of law mission (EULEX), which is currently being established.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Justification of the Provincial Parliament ( Memento of March 17, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ Kosovo Serbs launch new assembly , BBC, July 25, 2016
- ↑ Kosovo Serbs convene parliament , Southeast European Times, June 30th 2008
- ↑ Declaration on the grounds of the provincial parliament ( memento of the original from October 6, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Report in the media
