Kosovo to run own affairs as constitution comes into force

Neighbouring countries Serbia and Russia have refused to accept Kosovo's independence

Tweet

Print Share

 

Also In The News

Holders Greece out of Euro 2008 after Russia defeat
Defending champions Greece have been knocked out of Euro 2008 after they went down 1-0 to Russia in the Group D fixture this evening.

• Aragones says Spain deserved late win against Sweden
• Calzaghe expects to fight American Jones Jr in last bout
• Pakistan decide to reduce Akhtar ban to 18 months

 

Sunday, 15, Jun 2008 11:22

A new constitution is now in force in Kosovo which gives the local population greater ability to run its own affairs.

Kosovo had been administered by the United Nations ever since the Nato bombing of the then province of Serbia to oust Yugoslav forces from the area.

The new law of the breakaway province means greater powers for local authorities as envisaged by the Ahtisaari plan, which recommended greater autonomy.

Speaking about the move on AP television, Kosovo's deputy prime minister Hajredin Kuci said: "The will of the people of Kosovo and [the] Ahtisaari plan are included in the constitution."

The European Union (EU) is supposed to increase its involvement in the region through law and justice missions.

However, Russia and Serbia's opposition to the province's declaration of independence means that an official handover to the EU did not take place.

Tensions have been high in the area with the divided town of Mitrovica seeing an attack on a police station while an attack took place on the residence of the prime minister of Kosovo last week.