Glas Javnosti, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
December 23, 2000

Ivanovic on republic elections in Kosmet

Dissatisfied with preparations

BELGRADE - The holding of republic elections in Kosovo and Metohija
remains under a question mark. Electoral commissions and election
materials have been prepared and await the decision of the Government.

The Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija who are temporarily displaced will be
able to vote only if they are registered in a municipality in Serbia
other than in Kosmet.

"I am dissatisfied with preparations by the Republic Election Committee
prior to these elections. I have the impression that it is in the
interest of forces which were defeated in federal elections not to
organize elections in Kosovo and Metohija. This would create conditions
for manipulation of the people," says Oliver Ivanovic, the president of
the executive board of the Serb National Council for northern Kosovo.

Zoran Djumic of the Republic Election Committee told "Glas" that the
committee had completed all preparations for the holding of elections in
the southern Serbian province.

"The commission has completed all preparations for the holding of
elections in the Serb enclaves. Whether and where elections will be held
does not depend on us but on the possibility of providing security at
the polling stations," said Djumic.

LJ. S.

* * *

Materials sent to Kosmet

The president of the Republic Election Committee, Andrija Simic, stated
that on Thursday all election materials for the Kosovo, Kosovska
Mitrovica and Pec districts were sent. 250 polling stations are to be
opened which are expected to enable 100,000 people with voting rights to
cast their votes. Election materials were sent as far as Raska, where
they were turned over to Republic Election Committee coordinators for
those districts.

Translated by S. Lazovic (Dec. 25, 2000)