Polls open in two-day referendum in north

Source: Beta, Tanjug

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- The citizens in four municipalities of northern Kosovo will vote on today and tomorrow in a referendum on accepting or rejecting the authorities in Priština.

People vote in a polling station in northern Kosovo (Beta)

The referendum question reads, "Do you accept the institutions of the so-called Republic of Kosovo".
A total of 21 percent or 4,842 citizens cast their ballots in three municipalities of northern Kosovo until noon, representative of the Referendum Commission Ljubomir Radović stated.

Radović told a press conference in Zvečan that, out of the total number of eligible voters, 15 percent voted in the city until noon, while 11 percent cast their vote in Zubin Potok and 30.1 percent in Kosovska Mitrovica.

The citizens of Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvečan and Zubin Potok will be able to vote on Tuesday and Wednesday, while in Leposavić the referendum will be held only on Wednesday.

Earlier on Monday, Radović told Tanjug that 35,500 ballots have been printed, some in Albanian, which citizens would use on 82 polling stations in northern Kosovo to vote.

The preliminary results will be made public late on February 15, while the final results would be released on February 19.

Radović also pointed out that representatives of UNMIK and OSCE have been invited to monitor the course of the referendum, and that representatives of the International Crisis Group have already expressed willingness to observe the referendum.

He said that all polls were open in urban areas this morning and that the voting was taking place without problems, but that it was still unknown what the situation in some villages was, considering the weather, where snow and low temperatures cut off many places.

Radović said that for this reason the turnout will likely be lower than expected.

Representatives of international community and the government in Priština were against the holding of the referendum saying it would have no legal consequences. Officials in Belgrade were also agains, as they believe it will deteriorate the position of Serbia and Serbs in Kosovo.