By DPA
Pristina : Former Kosovo Albanian political representative Hashim Thaci’s party Sunday won Kosovo parliamentary polls and immediately pledged the province’s independence from Serbia.
“A new era is starting. The citizens of Kosovo have sent a message to the world that we are a democratic country and society,” Thaci said after his Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) was reported to have collected 35 percent of the votes sweeping President Fatmir Sejdiu’s Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) from power.
“But the strongest message was that Kosovo is ready for its independence and its freedom,” he said, and expressed confidence that the United States and European Union would support Pristina.
According to local media reports, LDK, the largest party in the province formed by the late creator of the Kosovo Albanian independence movement Ibrahim Rugova 18 years ago, was punished by voters and collected only 22 per cent of the votes.
The newcomer Alliance New Kosovo (AKR), founded by millionaire businessman Behgjet Pacolli in 2006, came third with 12 percent of the votes and may also figure in a future coalition.
LDK is however expected to remain in power as the junior partner in a grand coalition, as Albanian leaders will want to forge a strong government quickly in time for the end of talks on Kosovo’s status with Serbia on Dec 10.
As reported, only 45 percent turnout had been recorded in Saturday’s poll, which included voting for 30 municipal assemblies and mayors.
The Serbs, who followed Belgrade’s orders and boycott the polls, now lost control over the five municipalities with mixed population in which they are a majority.
The United States, which has vocally supported Kosovo’s independence, said that the Serbs harmed their own interest by refusing to vote.
“The US deeply regrets the decision of Kosovo Serbs, encouraged by Serbia, not to participate in these elections,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington. The Serb community “can only be disadvantaged by this decision.”
In 2001, Serbs had won 11.3 percent of the votes and, with seats guaranteed for minorities, they had 22 representatives. In the upcoming assembly they may take only the 10 seats reserved for them, Belgrade analysts said.
Saturday’s elections were the third since a UN administration and a NATO peacekeeping force assumed control over Kosovo in mid-1999.
Belgrade refuses to recognise Kosovo’s elected authorities and has been increasingly hostile to them as they assumed a larger share in governing from the UN administration.
Since NATO ousted its forces from Kosovo in 1999, Serbia has had only nominal sovereignty over the province.