Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Assembly of the Community of Municipalities, Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija

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Type
  
unicameral

Disbanded
  
2013

Founded
  
2008

Seats
  
45

Assembly of the Community of Municipalities, Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija

Succeeded by
  
Community of Serb municipalities

Political groups
  
SRS (17)      DSS (13)      SPS (4)      DS (3)      G17+ (1)      GIG (1)      Independent  (4)

The Assembly of the Community of Municipalities of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (Serbian: Скупштина Заједнице општина Аутономне Покрајине Косово и Метохија / Skupština Zajednice opština Autonomne Pokrajine Kosovo i Metohija) was the assembly of the association of local governments created by the municipal authorities in Kosovo elected in the May 11, 2008 municipal elections called by the Government of Serbia. It was created in North Kosovska Mitrovica to represent the municipalities that defy the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence. The Assembly was composed of 45 representatives delegated by 26 municipalities. The majority of delegates were ethnic Serbs, while the rest represented the Gorani, Bosniak and Romani communities.

Contents

Serbia dropped its support for the assembly as a result of the 2013 Brussels Agreement, signed between the governments of Kosovo and Serbia. A new Community of Serb municipalities is set to be formed in 2015, which will operate within the Kosovo legal framework.

History

The first session of the Assembly took place on May 11 and the inaugural meeting of the assembly occurred on Vidovdan, the feast day for St. Vitus, June 28 in 2008—a historically important date for Serbs that commemorates the 1389 Battle of Kosovo. Radovan Ničić was the President of the Assembly.

Composition

The seats in the Assembly are divided as follows:

  • Serbian Radical Party – 17
  • Democratic Party of Serbia – 13
  • Socialist Party of Serbia – 4
  • Democratic Party – 3
  • G17 Plus – 1
  • Civic Initiative of Gora – 1
  • Independent – 4
  • International response

    The elections which are basis for the Assembly were not recognised by the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) or the government of Kosovo. The creation of the Assembly has been condemned by President of Kosovo Fatmir Sejdiu as an act aimed at destabilising Kosovo while UNMIK has said the creation is not a serious issue because the Assembly will not have an operative role.

    Post Brussels Developments

    In the Brussels Agreement, in September 2013, Serbia ended its support of the municipal assemblies that appointed the members of the Assembly of the Community of Municipalities of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija. Serbia appointed temporary leaders until the 2013 Kosovo municipal elections were completed. The Community of Serb municipalities is expected to be formed in 2015.

    References

    Assembly of the Community of Municipalities, Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija Wikipedia