Kosovo Serbs Vote Against Independence And Pristina's Rule

Serbs In Kosovo Reject Independence, Pristina's Governance -- Christian Science Monitor

Serbs living in northern Kosovo overwhelmingly rejected the state's independence in a referendum, voting against accepting rule from Albanian-dominated Pristina.

Serbs in Northern Kosovo rejected the fledgling state’s independence in an overwhelming vote this week. The vote indicates the frustration and alienation felt by the Serbian minority in Kosovo, which they see as part of Serbia.

A remarkable 99.7 percent of voters voted “no” to accepting rule from the ethnic-Albanian dominated institutions of Pristina, the Kosovan capital, with fewer than 70 ballots in favor. But despite the unequivocal result – reminiscent of a North Korean “election” but almost certainly fair – the vote is extremely unlikely to move this frozen conflict any closer to resolution. The Serbian government, anxious to move closer to the European Union, opposed the vote. This has drawn criticism from the international community (including the EU), which fears it could ramp up tensions in the region.

Read more ....

More News On Serbs In Kosovo Voting To Reject Kosovo Rule

Referendum results: voters say 'no' to Kosovo institutions -- SETimes
Serbs in Kosovo Reject Ethnic Albanian Rule -- Wall Street Journal
Referendum of discord -- Voice of Russia
Northern Serbs Vote 'No' to Kosovo -- Balkan Insight
Defiant Serbs hold referendum to reject Kosovo rule that could affect Serbia’s path to EU -- Washington Post/AP

My Comment: Serb - Kosovar relations are poisonous in northern Kosovo. The overwhelming sentiment in the Serb parts of Kosovo is one of zero allegiance to the Pristina government, and in turn the rulers in Pristina have zero feelings towards the Serbs in the north. The best solution is to split Kosovo .... but no one wants to go there. The only ones who can influence the situation are the Europeans themselves .... but in Europe today the focus is on the financial/debt crisis and not on a Christian-Muslim conflict that has been ongoing in the Balkans for centuries.