Serbs to go to Kosovo polls if no special conditions are set

In an interview with Tanjug, Jablanovic said that it is important for Serbs to vote in the elections because it could make them a major political force in the Kosovo assembly, allowing them to become the masters of their own destiny.He said that he expects the Serbian government to take a clear position on Serb turnout in the Kosovo parliamentary elections."Our state is in Belgrade, we have been given assurances that Serbia will not abandon us, and I am certain that it will not," Jablanovic said.Having a single Serb electoral list would be the best, he said, adding that the list around Citizens' Initiative Srpska is open to all parties.Jablanovic blamed the stalled establishment of the community of Serb municipalities on the Pristina authorities, which he said have not adopted the legislative amendments required to make its formation possible pursuant to the Brussels Agreement on normalising relations with Belgrade.The Pristina authorities are purposefully dragging their feet on the formation of the community, which they believe could decrease voter support, Jablanovic said, expressing hope that the community will be established immediately after the elections.He said that the community of Serb municipalities should include all 10 Serb-majority municipalities and that it will have all the powers of a region or a province, but no political powers."We will request for a municipality of Gora to be formed as well," Jablanovic said, echoing a request of the Gorani community in the area.Detailed estimates say that the damage caused by the April floods in the Leposavic municipality totals around RSD 38 million (EUR 330,000), Jablanovic said."Projects to overhaul bridges are under preparation," he said, adding that the UNDP is ready to assist the overhauls of two bridges with funds worth EUR 100,000 and that Kosovo's ministry of local self-government has also pledged to help.Jablanovic said that the Serbian government has already provided RSD 2.7 million for repairing the damage caused by the floods in the northern Kosovo municipality.