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Kosovo adopts statute effective from mid-June
Kosovo adopted a state constitution yesterday, which will come into force in mid-June when the United Nations completes a handover of powers to the newly independent country and its EU overseers.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:28 April 10, 2008
Pristina: Kosovo adopted a state constitution yesterday, which will come into force in mid-June when the United Nations completes a handover of powers to the newly independent country and its EU overseers.
Parliament endorsed the document without a vote, almost two months after the 90-per cent Albanian majority declared independence from Serbia with Western backing. It declares Kosovo a secular republic, "an independent, sovereign, democratic, unique and indivisible state".
Peace-loving country
Kosovo expresses its determination "to build a future ... as a free, democratic and peace-loving country that will be a homeland to all of its citizens", the text reads. The constitution will come into force on June 15, when the UN mission that has run the former Serbian province since 1999 is due to hand over its remaining powers to Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leaders and new EU-led supervisors.
But questions remain over how the transition will proceed, after Serb ally Russia last year blocked the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution endorsing the EU takeover and a UN plan for independence.
Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, who fought in the 1998-99 guerrilla war against Serbia, told parliament: "The constitution clearly defines our hope, our optimism, our belief and our rights, which are strongly supported and keep us united."
President Fatmir Sejdiu appealed to Kosovo's 120,000 remaining Serbs to accept the document, and to become a "bridge" between Kosovo and "our neighbour, Serbia".
President Fatmir Sejdiu appealed to Kosovo's 120,000 remaining Serbs to accept the document, and to become a "bridge" between Kosovo and "our neighbour, Serbia".
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