Boris Tadic's request follows the Serbian government's decision that residents of Kosovo, primarily the large minority of ethnic Serbs, who consider the unilateral declaration of independence by the province to be illegal, must participate in the Serbian elections.
"We believe it is important that everywhere in Kosovo, where citizens recognize the Republic of Serbia as their state, they choose in a democratic way their own municipal, as well as parliamentary, representatives," Tadic said in remarks prepared for a closed UN Security Council meeting on Kosovo.
The Albanian majority in Kosovo, who proclaimed the province's independence on February 17, has strongly opposed Tadic's initiative, saying no country can hold elections on another country's territory.
Kosovo has so far been formally recognized by 37 countries, including the United States and most EU member states.
However, Kosovo's authorities in Pristina fear the province could split into Serb and Albanian parts, and that the polls could trigger this process. Kosovar politicians have already voiced concerns over threats to the territorial integrity of the world's "newest state".
The UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), stationed in the area since the end of an interethnic conflict in 1999, backed Pristina's stance on municipal elections, while at the same time supporting the right of Serbs living in Kosovo to vote in the national parliamentary elections as they did previously.
Tadic said Kosovo Serbs do not trust the Kosovo Albanian authorities, and are not prepared to cooperate with the EU mission of police and justice officials (EULEX) - set to gradually take over policing of Kosovo from UNMIK - until a relevant resolution is issued by the UN Security Council.
The EU decided to send its 2,200-strong mission to the province after the UN Security Council blocked independence incentives for Kosovo. The council has yet to rule on whether EULEX is legitimate.
Russia's UN envoy, Vitaly Churkin, said Russia staunchly opposes transferring the UN mission and property to "the illegal EU mission", and hopes the UN will prevent attempts to usurp its powers.
Russia, Serbia's long-time ally and veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, has refused to recognize Kosovo's independence saying this could serve as a precedent for other volatile regions throughout the world and undermine stability. China and some EU countries share the position of Moscow and Belgrade.
