Top U.N. official issues law allowing experimental local government in Kosovo

Associated Press, Jul 22, 2005 11:34 AM

PRISTINA, Serbia-Montenegro-The top U.N. official in Kosovo issued Friday a law establishing experimental municipal governments in the disputed province.

The measure, signed by U.N. chief Soren Jessen-Petersen, will provide a basis to set up five municipal government pilot projects as part of the local self-government reform in the province, a U.N. statement said.

The move is an attempt to woo the Serb minority back into province's institutions, which they have boycotted for nearly a year.

Western officials say talks on province's future depend on resolving issues such as local government reforms, which would give local authorities more power and ensure ethnic minorities have greater say.

The process has been plagued by delays following disputes over new municipal boundaries, local councilors and criticism by the province's opposition parties, who argue that the way the government is carrying out the reforms might lead to the division of Kosovo along ethnic lines.

Kosovo officially remains a province of Serbia-Montenegro and has been administered by the United Nations over the last six years following NATO's air war aimed at stopping the crackdown of Serb troops on separatist ethnic Albanians.

Since then, the province remains split between ethnic Albanians who want it to be independent and Serbia, which opposes the province's independence.

Talks to determine the province's future are expected later this year, but only if Kosovo meets internationally set standards.

The law, which entered in force on Friday, will remain in effect until province holds local elections scheduled for 2006.