ASSOCIATION OF KOSOVO SERBS AGAINST VOTER REGISTRATION

BELGRADE, Aug 17 (Hina) - An association of Kosovo Serbs said on Friday the registration of displaced persons from Kosovo and their participation in the November 17 general vote in the province was "absolutely unacceptable" and "contrary to Resolution 1244 of the U.N. Security Council on Kosovo." The association gathers Serbs who left Kosovo from 1941 onward and it seeks the registration of all persons who left the province from that year and their descendants. It also announced the organisation of "parallel elections for the Serb assembly of Kosovo and Metohija" on November 19. Non-Albanians in Serbia and Kosovo are being registered so that they could have the right to participate in the general vote, to be organised by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). According to OSCE data, 14,000 non-Albanians, including 4,200 Serbs, have been registered in Kosovo so far. A total of 10,279 Kosovo Serbs have been registered in Serbia and another 134 in Montenegro, the OSCE reports. The Serbian Commission for Refugees said today 1,470 displaced persons had been registered yesterday and 1,100 two days before yesterday. Despite an intense media, especially television campaign for the registration of displaced Kosovo residents, their turnout is very low. The Serbian Commission for Refugees says the turnout could increase in coming days but it does not state what its estimate is based on. Belgrade expects that about 140,000 non-Albanians should be registered in Kosovo, and another 200,000-250,000 in Serbia. The registration started on July 30 and will last until September 8. (hina) rml