Hovenier: We are disappointed because the Government of Kosovo did not allow the OSCE to collect ballots from Serbian voters for the elections in Serbia

US Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier stated that the US had not changed its stance regarding the holding of Serbian elections on the territory of Kosovo and expressed disappointment that the Kosovo Government had decided not to continue the longstanding practice of allowing the OSCE to collect ballots from Serbian voters with the right to vote residing in Kosovo for parliamentary elections in Serbia.

However, Hovenier told Klan Kosova that, although the issue of holding Serbian elections had been raised for the first time in 2022, "Kosovo has the right to determine the conditions for elections of other countries held on its territory".

"Our position has not changed since this issue was first raised in 2022. We continue to express disappointment that the Government of Kosovo decided not to continue the longstanding practice of allowing the OSCE to collect ballots from Serbian voters with the right to vote residing in Kosovo", Hovenier said.

He emphasized that his country strongly believed that voters with the right to vote in all countries should be fully able to participate in democratic processes.

"Therefore, Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state has the right to determine the conditions under which elections of other sovereign states are held on its territory", Hovenier concluded.