PRISTINA, Serbia-Montenegro, Jan 24 (AFP) - A Kosovo Serb politician joined the provincial government Monday, taking the refugees portfolio despite a boycott of local institutions by most Serb political leaders.
"I accept Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj's offer to enter the government as the minister in charge of the return of refugees and communities," said Slavisa Petkovic, the head of a minor political group called Civilian Initiative Serbia.
"Kosovo Serbs have to participate within the institutions if they want to improve their living conditions."
Government spokesman Arben Qirezi confirmed that Petkovic had taken one of two seats reserved for minority ethnic Serbs in the parliament, which is dominated by ethnic Albanians.
Most Kosovo Serb politicians continue to boycott central institutions in the southern Serbian province, which became a UN protectorate in 1999 after NATO intervened to end a brutal Serbian crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists.
In the wake of anti-Serb riots in March last year, which left 19 dead and thousands homeless, Serb leaders have insisted they cannot participate in the provincial administration unless security and human rights improve.
Petkovic said his decision to join the government had damaged his relations with other Serb politicians.
Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority is seeking independence but most Serbs want to remain part of Serbia.
01/24/2005 14:59 GMT - AFP