Ahtisaari’s Constitution Framework AcceptedOn February 17th 2008 the Assembly of Kosovo declared Kosovo’s independence as the Republic of Kosovo and proclaimed its own sovereignty. The constitution is in force since July 15th. Martti Ahtisaari, appointed as Special Envoy by UN General Secretary Kofi Annan, made a “controlled independance” status proposal. It is anticipated that the EU shall assist Kosovo authorities in their progress by appointing EU emissaries to the Kosovo Government. The establishment of a Constitutional Court, a Central Bank, an Audit Office, a Central Election Commission and a council on media and national information agencies is also included in the “thesis” of the constitution.

The term of office for the Kosovo President is 5 years and the Parliament disposes of a four-year mandate. A ballot for President is to be carried out by members of the Assembly. It is obligatory that at least 30 out of 120 deputies support the candidate.

The official languages of Kosovo are Albanian and Serbian. Turkish, Serbo-Croatian and Roma languages are functionary. The constitution is published on the Internet and is translated into 6 languages.

The US congressmen Eliot Engel and John Smith shall address MPs to congratulate them on the festive session of Parliament the coming Monday. Even so, the Serbian entity of Kosovo refused to accept the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo and its Albanian authorities. Respectively, they also reject the recently approved constitution even though it clearly states that inhabitants belonging to non-Albanian ethnic groups shall also have specific and unapproachable rights. The selected date for the election of a “Serbian Parliament” that would protect the political interest of the non-Albanian subjects, appointed by Belgrade and the Serbian minority in Kosovo, is June 28th.

Radio France Internacional streses that the Kosovo Constitution, adopted at a parliamentary session two months after the proclamation of independence, consists of 40 chapters and 160 articles. According to it, Kosovo is defined as a parliamentary republic with established sweeping powers for the president.

Hashim Thaci is positive that the exercising of political powers in Kosovo will be based on the equality of all citizens.

Jean-Arnaud Derens, Radio France Internacional’s correspondent in Kosovo, stressed the fact that the constitutional framework was drawn by the UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari and was later on approved by the special representative of the EU Peter Faith. The constitutional project was by all means coordinated with international law and principles and beyond all questions guarantees the political rights of Kosovo minority groups. It is a subject of international attention whether or not the Kosovo authorities shall abide it. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary – General of the United Nations has ceased the activity of the UNMIK. It will partly transfer authority to the EULEX concerning the police, judicial system and border control. The rest of the UNMIK’s competences shall pass over to the Kosovo Government.

Serbia still opposes Kosovo’s independence and considers it an illegal act. Respectively, it denies the EULEX since its sole purpose is to develop the newly established republic.

Russia, China, India, Spain, Greece and other countries have also retained their official position of denial towards the Republic of Kosovo’s “illegal” independence.