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).Observations of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, Muncipal (sic) elections in Kosovo - 28 October 2000, Council of Europe, 15 December 2000, accessed 4 February 2022. 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."Robert H. Reid, "Serbs adamant in rejecting UN elections until Serbs allowed to return," Associated Press Newswires, 14 July 2000. 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.Observations of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, Muncipal (sic) elections in Kosovo - 28 October 2000, Council of Europe, 15 December 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.

Results

Gjakova District Gjakova

Aqif Shehu of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election.Gjakova – Raporit komunal, Instituti për Studime të Avancuara GAP, November 2009, accessed 21 March 2024. With Sylejman Sylejmani as the deputy Mayor.https://kqz-ks.org/zgjedhjet/zgjedhjet-per-kuvende-komunale/zgjedhjet-per-kuvende-komunale-2000/#17e6b6273b398ab96

Deçan

Mehmet Bojkaj of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election.Deçani – Raporti komunal, Instituti për Studime të Avancuara GAP, November 2009, accessed 19 March 2024.

Rahovec

Esad Haxhijaha of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election."Kush ishte ish-kryetari i Rahovecit Esad Haxhijaha", Syri, 21 January 2020, accessed 20 March 2024.

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.Remy Ourdan, "Des soldats français « pris en otage entre deux illusions »", Le Monde, 26 November 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.

Skenderaj

Ramadan Gashi of the Democratic Party of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election.PeaceWatch, United States Institute of Peace, Vol. VII No. 3 (April 2001), p. 5.Welcome to the Municipality of Skenderaj, Republic of Kosovo, 2012, p. 18, accessed 24 March 2024.

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."Vdes Hajzer Krasniqi, ish-kryetari i komunës së Vushtrrisë", Koha Ditore, 24 June 2018, accessed 4 February 2022.

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."Serb councillor in Pec takes oath in front of Albanian, UN flags," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European – Political, 29 January 2001 (Source: Kosovapress news agency web site, Pristina, in Albanian 25 Jan 01.).

Istog

Fadil Ferati of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election."Vdiq Fadil Ferati, nënkryetar i LDK-së", Bota Sot, 30 January 2010, accessed 17 March 2024.

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.Human Rights Watch World Report 2002 - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Human Rights Watch, 17 January 2002, accessed 20 March 2024."Ethnic Albanian officials oppose return of Serb refugees," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European – Political, 20 March 2002 (Source: Koha Ditore, Pristina, in Albanian 19 Mar 02 p 4.).

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."Violence and Serb anger overshadow Kosovo poll result," Agence France-Presse, 6 November 2000. 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)."Kušner najavljuje izbore", Blic, 21 November 2000, accessed 4 February 2022. 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."SRSG Inaugurates Leposavic Municipal Assembly," United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, 20 November 2000.

Nenad Radosavljević, who had previously led the Serbian National Council in Leposavić, became mayor in that community."Nebojša Čović sastavlja listu", , Glas javnosti, 25 November 2001, accessed 24 March 2024. He stood down from the role later in 2001."Kosovo Serb political landscape: People’s Justice", Kossev, 9 September 2019, accessed 24 March 2024. 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."OSOBLJE UNMIK-A NAPUSTILO ZVECAN, ZUBIN POTOK I LEPOSAVIC", , B92, 11 April 2002, accessed 4 February 2022.

In Zubin Potok, Slaviša Ristić of the Democratic Party of Serbia was selected by the local assembly as mayor."Nastavljaju borbu u dve kolone", Glas javnosti, 30 December 2001, accessed 4 February 2022.

Desimir Petković, who had served as mayor of Zvečan prior to the 2000 elections, was confirmed for another term in office afterwards.PeaceWatch, United States Institute of Peace, Vol. VII No. 3 (April 2001), p. 5.

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."Kosovo's Linchpin: Overcoming Division in Mitrovica", International Crisis Group, c. 2000, accessed 24 March 2024. 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."Serbian deputy PM says UN administration of Mitrovica agreed with Belgrade," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 26 November 2002 (Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1220 gmt 26 Nov 02)."Serbia's Covic announces forming of northern Mitrovica council," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 17 December 2002 (Source: Beta news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1236 gmt 17 Dec 02). Radović gave his support to the initiative."Poslanici 'Povratka' ne učestvuju u zasedanju Skupštine", B92, 27 November 2002, accessed 24 March 2024. The board held its first meeting on 30 May 2003."'I Was Born in That Village' – Prospects for Minority Returns and Sustainable Integrated Communities in Kosovo", The Urban Institute, June 2003, p. 45.

References