Pristina delegation has mandate to negotiate for independence

Serbian Press Agency SRNA, Bijeljina, 28-09-2005 11:58:39

Pristina - According to the position of the Kosovo parliament, the Kosovo Albanian delegation in future dialogue on the status Kosovo only has a mandate to advocate the independence of the province.

At a session today the Kosovo Assembly adopted a Declaration on political platform for the work of the Pristina delegation in future dialogue on the final status of the province, in which it emphasizes that the delegation must not waver from the position on independence.

"The mandate of the members of the work group, including president Ibrahim Rugova, premier Bajram Kosumi, parliamentary speaker Nexhat Daci, Democratic Party of Kosovo president Hasim Thaci and Civil Initiative ORA president Veton Surroi, is the independence of Kosovo," the Assembly concluded.

The Assembly explained that the independence of Kosovo is "a done deal, expressed as early as the 1999 referendum".

The Democratic Party of Kosovo requested as an alternative solution that another referendum be held in which citizens will vote on the future of Kosovo, and the Kosovo Assembly adopted this request in principle.

The assembly concluded that in future dialogue "all responsibilities from international conventions on recognition of human rights should be accepted, and those who wish to live or to return to Kosovo will have the right to do so and necessary conditions for this will be created".

At the session of the Assembly there were a number of criticisms by opposition deputies regarding the composition of the negotiating team, especially with respect to prime minister Kosumi who is still being accused by the Democratic Party of Kosovo of heading the most corrupt government in Europe.

The two [Serbian] deputies belonging to the Civil Initiative of Serbia voted for the Declaration while representatives of the Group of Six, comprised of Turks, Bosniacs and Goranis, abstained from voting.