Local, international officials in Kosovo dismiss new Serbian constitution

Text of report by Radio-Television Kosovo TV website on 2 October

Local and international officials have reacted to the decision by the Serbian parliament to adopt a draft constitution which defines Kosova [Kosovo] as an integral part of Serbia. UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo] chief Joachim Ruecker said that the new constitution of Serbia will have no impact on Kosova's current political status. Kosova is under the administration of the United Nations and the decision of the Serbian parliament will not affect it. In general it seems that the Serbs are hardening their positions instead of making them more flexible, concluded UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker.

The OSCE has criticized Serbia for adopting its new constitution. Belgrade's move on Kosova has been deemed hasty, but this newly passed constitution will have no impact on the outcome of Kosova's status, says a statement released by the OSCE.

Deputy Prime Minister Lutfi Haziri said that inclusion of Kosova in the new Serbian constitution is a call to war. This act is a serious action that aims at preventing the independence of Kosova even though this is more of a political game played for internal aims and with no effect on the processes going on in Kosova, said Deputy Prime Minister Lutfi Haziri.

President Sejdiu's advisor Skender Hyseni said: This is just another game from Belgrade. We are used to Belgrade's games. Kosova may be part of Serbia just as Azerbaijan or any other state is part of it. The new constitution will not endanger the negotiation process on Kosova's status in any way.

Prime Minister Ceku's advisor Avni Arifi said that this recent move by Belgrade shows that Serbia still has some unresolved issues with itself. We are committed to work closely with UN special envoy for Kosova status talks Martti Ahtisaari on the process for defining the political status of Kosova in full accordance with the principles set out by the Contact Group, stressed Avni Arifi.

Jakup Krasniqi, secretary general of the Democratic Party of Kosova, said: Serbia is continuing Milosevic's policies and the traditional Serbian policies against Albanians. Kosova has already separated from Serbia and it is now awaiting international recognition. The problem of the new Serbian constitution is an issue that the international community has to deal with, while we have to deal with our own affairs, said Jakup Krasniqi.

ORA [Hour party] official Nazim Jashari said that inclusion of Kosova in the new Serbian constitution can only have negative repercussions. It represents a unilateral move that interferes with the process for status resolution. It remains to be seen how we will react and whether we will be able to come out with a clear position which will neither diminish the act of the Serbian parliament, nor exaggerate its importance, said Nazim Jashari.

Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 2 Oct 06