EU to deploy election observers to Kosovo

The European Union (EU) is to send an observation mission to the municipal elections in Kosovo on Nov. 3, an EU statement said on Thursday. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton nominated Roberto Gualtieri, member of the European Parliament, as the chief observer for the mission. "The mission aims to support Kosovo in the conduct of a fair and inclusive electoral process since the municipal elections are an essential element of the 19 April agreement," according to Ashton. The decision to deploy the mission followed an exploratory mission confirming EU observers would be welcomed by all stakeholders, she added. Kosovo, a Serbian province, unilaterally declared independence in 2008. Serbia refuses to recognize Kosovo as an independent country. However, the EU set it as a precondition for Serbia's EU aspirations that the country must normalize relations with neighbors, especially Kosovo.