Serbian Parliament Rejects UN Plan for Self-rule in KosovoThe parliament of the Serbian Republic Thursday categorically rejected a U.N.-proposed constitutional framework for setting up provisional self- government in Kosovo province, saying that it is detrimental to the national interests of both Yugoslavia and the republic.The framework, unveiled on May 15 by U.N. administrator in Kosovo Hans Haekkerup, will also harm the interests of non- Albanians in Kosovo and violated the U.N. Resolution 1244 on Kosovo, said a declaration adopted by the parliament. It also urged the U.N. mission and NATO peacekeeping forces in Kosovo to facilitate under the U.N. resolution without any further delay the return of refugees and guarantee their safety. Under the framework, general elections will be held in the predominantly Albanian province on November 17 to form a 120-seat legislative assembly. The assembly will in turn elect a president for the province, who will then nominate the head of the provincial government. Earlier, Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica said that the plan will cut off Kosovo's law enforcement system with those of Yugoslavia and the Serbian Republic, thus granting the nature of a country and independence to the province, which has been under the U.N. and NATO control since June 1999. Under the plan, law enforcement and security in Kosovo will still be administrated by the U.N. mission and NATO peacekeepers after the formation of the future government in Kosovo. |
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