President Atifete Jahjaga has said local elections set for November 3 will be a test of Kosovo's political maturity as it seeks closer ties with the European Union.
Jahjaga said participation of Serbs in the election for the first time since Kosovo's 2008 secession from Serbia will help integrate the ethnic group, which so far has defied Pristina's rule.
The poll will be closely watched for the turnout of ethnic Serbs and is also seen as a vital step in Serbia's bid to join the European Union. Serbia still officially rejects Kosovo's independence but has now encouraged ethnic Serbs to vote as part of an EU-brokered normalization deal with Pristina.
Some 1.7 million across Kosovo are eligible to vote in the polls for deputies and mayors of 36 Kosovo municipalities.
Jahjaga said participation of Serbs in the election for the first time since Kosovo's 2008 secession from Serbia will help integrate the ethnic group, which so far has defied Pristina's rule.
The poll will be closely watched for the turnout of ethnic Serbs and is also seen as a vital step in Serbia's bid to join the European Union. Serbia still officially rejects Kosovo's independence but has now encouraged ethnic Serbs to vote as part of an EU-brokered normalization deal with Pristina.
Some 1.7 million across Kosovo are eligible to vote in the polls for deputies and mayors of 36 Kosovo municipalities.
