Mayors in the north pledge for prosperity of citizens and cooperation with the Police

In North Mitrovica, Leposavić, Zubin-Potok and Zvečan, the constitutive sessions of the municipal assemblies and the swearing-in ceremonies of the new mayors, all from the Serbian List, were held. Three years ago, the mayors who came from this same political entity, left the municipalities in protest against the Government's decisions to extend constitutionality to this part. Now they took the oath with state symbols and in accordance with the Constitution of Kosovo.

With the photo of the president of the state in front and the Kosovo flag on the side of the hall, the inauguration of the new Serbian mayor of North Mitrovica, Milan Radojevic, took place. A few minutes before 11:00, the new assembly members of this municipality arrived in the hall, of which 10 belong to the Serbian List, one to Vetëvendosje, one to PDK and three others from three smaller Serbian parties. Aleksandër Arsenijevic, who is wanted by the Police, was absent.

To monitor the conduct of the session in accordance with the laws of Kosovo, representatives of the Ministry of Local Government Administration were also present in the hall.

Also sitting at the back of the hall was the current MP, Slavko Simić.

While the oldest assemblyman presiding over the session was mentioning the rules during the inauguration, assemblyman Marko Jaksic placed the flag with the colors of Serbia on the table, but without its coat of arms on it.

The chairman formed a commission that verified the mandates. While this was being done, Jakshiqi was called out by MLGA officials. When he came back inside, he removed the flag, but raised a concern.

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"At this moment, I feel endangered and unsafe, because in this hall, besides us and the journalists, there are also members of the police...", said Jakšić.

The two Albanian assembly members reacted to this.

"You don't need to be afraid of anyone else, we don't know who the police are, but we are equal here, there is no need to politicize this solemn meeting," said Emir Azemi, a PDK assemblyman.

LVV assemblywoman Aida Doli said she does not see the police presence.

"I don't notice that there is a policeman in this hall. There is no need for the speaker to feel threatened. We are here to be sworn in at the constitutive session," Doli said.

After these remarks, the assembly members prepared for the oath, the text of which was written on two sheets of paper in both official languages, Albanian and Serbian. The signatures of the municipal councilors were to be placed there.

After the oath, the re-elected mayor, Milan Radojevic, took the floor. He said that since Albanians took over leadership in Mitrovica, the municipality was no longer a multiethnic urban environment.

"It is time to close the dark chapter of the Municipality of North Mitrovica. We believe that we will bring prosperity to all citizens and bring back the multi-ethics and coexistence that has always existed in our city," stated Radojevic.

At the inaugural session, an Albanian assemblywoman was with a baby.

And, when the session ended and while the administration was collecting the oath texts, assemblyman Jakshiqi delayed them a bit, because on the sheet where the oath was written in Albanian, he did not sign, but wrote something else.

After the session, the mayor tried to enter the office, but found it locked. The mayor's inauguration is expected to take place on Monday.

In addition to North Mitrovica, municipal assemblies were also inaugurated in Leposavić, Zvečan and Zubin-Potok. In the latter, the mayor of Zubin-Potok, Miloš Perović, was also sworn in.

"I declare that I will perform my duties and exercise my powers with honor and loyalty, in order to create conditions for a safe and peaceful life in the Municipality of Zubin Potok," Perovic declared.

And from the headquarters of the Serbian List, the new mayor of Zvecan, Dragisa Milović, addressed the municipal building he led. After resigning on Serbian directives three years ago, Milović on Friday swore to work with honor, loyalty and in accordance with the law.

Initially, the oath was taken by the members of the Municipal Assembly, including the current mayor of Zvecan, Ilir Peci, who will be the only Albanian assemblyman in this municipality. Before the session, Peci spoke about the state in which he found the municipality and how they are handing it over to the current leadership. 

"I hope that the new mayor will act according to the law... It's a very big change, they have the procedures ready, they have the projects, they have everything listed in every directorate," said Peci. 

After meeting with the new mayor of Zvecan, he said that relations between them are very good.

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"We are explaining some details. We have not yet reached the signing. In all likelihood, the signing and acceptance will take place on Monday, around 10 am."

The text of the oath, read by the chair of the session, was repeated verbatim by the newly elected president, Dragisa Milović, in front of the Kosovo flag and a photograph of President Vjosa Osmani.

And in his speech upon being sworn in as mayor, he said that returning to the municipality is a solemn moment and that legitimate representatives are returning to the Municipal Assembly.

"The period that awaits us will certainly not be easy. It will be full of trials. That is why my main task and goal will be to, together with you, respected councilors, preserve, first and foremost, peace and security in the territory of our municipality," emphasized Milović.

The new mayor said that he will work for the benefit of the residents of Zveçan and that he will cooperate with internationals and with institutions at the central level, without calling them Kosovo's, and even when he mentioned the police, he referred to them by the name of the pre-declaration of independence.

"I am ready to cooperate with all people of good will, who are in this task, to preserve the prosperity and wealth of our municipality. I will also cooperate with representatives of the missions, according to Resolution 1244, with KFOR and UNMIK, with EULEX, OSCE, with the institutions in Pristina, with the Kosovo Police Service."

The inauguration also took place in the Municipality of Leposavic, where Zoran Todić returned as mayor. In this municipality too, the inauguration ceremony of the Municipal Assembly and the swearing-in ceremony of the mayor were held with state symbols.

Outside the municipality, there were no tensions, but there was an increased presence of Police and KFOR.

Serb-majority municipalities in the north have been led by Albanian mayors since May 2023, after those from the Serb List resigned in November 2022 as part of the collective departure of Serbs from institutions, in protest against the decisions of the Kosovo Government.

The Serbian List – a party that enjoys the support of Belgrade – during the pre-election campaign for the local elections, had admitted that it had made a mistake when it left the institutions and had emphasized that this decision was made to draw the attention of the international community to the “difficult situation” of the Serbs.

The leader of the Serbian List, Zlatan Ellek, said on December 3 that the new mayors of the municipalities – Milan Radojević in North Mitrovica, Zoran Todić in Leposavić, Dragisa Milović in Zvečan and Miloš Perović in Zubin Potok – will demand access to the full documentation upon taking office.

The Serbian List had also previously announced that it would cancel the "illegitimate" decisions made by the Albanian mayors of municipalities in the north.

After the October local elections, the European Union stated that it expects that the new local government in northern Kosovo, in cooperation with central institutions, will remain constructive in addressing the needs and demands of the population through institutions and in accordance with the laws in the coming period.

The Law on Local Self-Government provides that any decision or other act of the municipality that does not comply with the Constitution and laws may be subject to review by the supervisory body – in this case the Ministry of Local Self-Government or another responsible institution of the Government of Kosovo.

Local authorities also took ownership of the buildings where Serbian institutions operated, stopped "illegitimate" constructions financed by Serbia, or warned of the demolition of buildings built without permits.

Meanwhile, instead of Serbian institutions, Kosovo institutions, post offices and banks were opened, and the opening of economic entities owned by Albanians also began.

The Municipality of North Mitrovica also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Municipality of South Mitrovica in the middle of this year, which envisages the construction of bridges over the Ibar River for pedestrians and vehicles, an initiative that was supported by the Government of Kosovo.

also Arberi 5 dhj 2025 The new mayor of North Mitrovica, Milan Radojevic, is sworn in.

The Serb-majority population did not accept the Albanian mayors of the municipalities in the north, and successive crises erupted. At the end of May 2023, when the Albanian mayors took power, there was also a clash between Serbs and members of the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, in front of the Zvečan Municipality building, where dozens of KFOR members were injured.

Tensions in the north culminated in an attack by a group of armed Serbs in Banjska, Zvečan, in which Kosovo Police sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed. Three more Serb attackers were killed in the ensuing clashes. Milan Radoićić, former deputy leader of the Serbian List, claimed responsibility for the attack. Kosovo authorities accused Serbia of involvement, where Radoićić and his group, now designated as terrorists, are now staying.