Kosovo: Serb representative rejoins panel on legal framework for self-government

A Kosovo Serb representative has rejoined the committee finalizing the legal framework for the province's provisional self-government, the United Nations mission in Kosovo reported today.

Alexandar Simic, representative of the Kosovo Serbs, had joined discussion and had been "officially accepted by all members" of the Joint Working Group on the Legal Framework for Provisional Self-Government, said the panel's Chairman, Johan Van Lamoen.

On 5 April, Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica had agreed to urge the Kosovo Serbs to participate in the process in his meeting with Hans Haekkerup, head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

Mr. Van Lamoen said that "90 per cent or more" of the first draft, to be presented on 13 April to Mr. Haekkerup, was a consensus document. Outstanding issues included the institution of President, the constitutional court and the possibility of holding "popular consultations." A request cutting across ethnic lines was to call the document an "interim constitution."