Kosovo's constitution came into force on Sunday, following the territory's declaration of independence from Serbia in February. The constitution marks an important shift of power within Kosovo from the United Nations mission to local government.
However, Kosovo is to stay under the international supervision of the UN and the EU mission for the time being. Kosovo's authorities don't plan any celebrations to mark the constitution. They say they don't want to provoke the Serb minority, which is strongly opposed to independence. Meanwhile, Russia and Serbia oppose the move saying it violates international law. The Serbian President, Boris Tadic, is to form an alternative parliament for minority Serbs, rejecting the newly adopted Kosovo constitution. They insist the new constitution will not apply to them because it hands power over to ethnic Albanians. Serbia’s government intends to have a new round of internationally mediated talks on the final status of Kosovo.