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Local elections were held throughout Kosovo on 28 October 2000, organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). ^[1] This was the first local electoral cycle held in Kosovo after the start of the UNMIK mandate in 1999.

In each municipality, elections were held for municipal assemblies under a system of proportional representation. The elected representatives in each jurisdiction were responsible for choosing an assembly president, who held the rank of mayor.

The Serb community of Kosovo generally boycotted the vote. Local Serb leaders expressed concern that security conditions had not improved to the point where Serbs could safely return to their homes; Dragiša Milović, acting as a spokesperson for Oliver Ivanović, said that Serbs in northern Kosovo would "[would] not register or take part in the vote until Serbs start returning to Kosovo in bigger numbers." ^[2] A Council of Europe report indicated that Serb non-participation was the "main drawback of the elections," blaming the situation in part on "pressure brought to bear by Belgrade." The fall of Slobodan Milošević's government, which took place in the middle of the campaign, was described as occurring too late to effect any change in this situation. ^[3]

Results

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Gjakova District

Gjakova

Aqif Shehu of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. ^[5]

Deçan

Mehmet Bojkaj of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. ^[7]

Rahovec

Esad Haxhijaha of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. ^[9]

Mitrovica District

Leposavić

The results in Leposavić, a predominantly Serb community, were not certified due to low turnout. No Serb parties participated in the election.

Mitrovica

Faruk Spahija of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. ^[13]

Skenderaj

Ramadan Gashi of the Democratic Party of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. ^{[15] [16]}

Vushtrri

Hajzer Krasniqi of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. Krasniqi was required to resign for health reasons in later in the year and was replaced by Muharrem Shabani, also of the Democratic League of Kosovo. ^[18]

Zubin Potok

The results in Zubin Potok, a predominantly Serb community, were not certified due to low turnout. No Serb parties participated in the election.

Zvečan

The results in Zvečan, a predominantly Serb community, were not certified due to low turnout. No Serb parties participated in the election.

Peja District

Peja

Ali Lajçi of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. UNMIK leader Bernard Kouchner appointed Božidar Krstić to the municipal assembly as a representative of Peja's Serb community. ^[24]

Istog

Fadil Ferati of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. ^[26]

Klina

Ismet Rraci of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. He was assassinated by unknown parties in April 2001. Ramë Manaj, also of the Democratic League of Kosovo, was chosen as his successor. ^{[28] [29]}

Subsequent developments

Following the results, and in light of the Serb boycott, UNMIK leader Bernard Kouchner said that he would appoint Serb representatives to municipal assemblies in the predominantly Serb areas. ^[30] Objections were raised by some community leaders, including the serving mayors of Leposavić, Zubin Potok, Zvečan, and Kosovska Mitrovica (as chosen by municipal assemblies elected in the 1996 Serbian local elections). ^[31] Notwithstanding this, UNMIK was able to establish functional local assemblies in Leposavić, Zubin Potok, and Zvečan, which in turn selected new mayors in their communities. ^[32]

Nenad Radosavljević, who had previously led the Serbian National Council in Leposavić, became mayor in that community. ^[33] He stood down from the role later in 2001. ^[34] Online sources do not indicate if anyone was formally appointed as his successor prior to the 2002 local elections; Nebojša Radulović served as deputy mayor and may also have been acting mayor. ^[35]

In Zubin Potok, Slaviša Ristić of the Democratic Party of Serbia was selected by the local assembly as mayor. ^[36]

Desimir Petković, who had served as mayor of Zvečan prior to the 2000 elections, was confirmed for another term in office afterwards. ^[37]

The situation in northern Kosovska Mitrovica was different, as it was not recognized by UNMIK as a separate municipality. The Serbian government continued to recognize the pre-war municipal administration led by Nikola Radović until 2002, although its authority was for a time eclipsed by the local Serbian National Council led by Oliver Ivanović. ^[38] Ivanović left the SNV in 2001, at which time its influence in civil government declined.

In November 2002, the Serbian government agreed to give UNMIK direct control over the municipal government of northern Kosovska Mitrovica on a provisional basis. ^{[39] [40]} Radović gave his support to the initiative. ^[41] The board held its first meeting on 30 May 2003. ^[42]

References