Brussels, 09/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - Adopting a series of changes to the Constitution on Thursday, the Kosovan parliament made clear its plans to accelerate moves to make Kosovo an autonomous province, reflecting a level of frustration with regard to the United Nations' administration and international community's constant reiteration of laws coming before changes in status.
It is unsure whether the parliament took account of the international community's representatives in Kosovo, who are reported to be annoyed with the moves. Some believe the moves are empty political gestures by local Albanian authorities in the run-up to the October elections, comments Reuters. The amendment voted in by the Kosovan parliament stipulate that at the end of the provisional international administration, Kosovo would hold a referendum to decide on its status. The amendments have not yet come into force, because the UN administration may decide to veto them.
UN spokesperson Mechtild Henneke said the legal department of the UN mission, which has been in command in Kosovo since 1999, would review the constitutional amendments adopted by the Albanian-dominated parliament. The EU regretted the decision, with EU High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, commenting that this type of unilateral decision would not enable the status issue to be decided, and that the EU's message hadn't changed - the policy of rules must still be applied.