Press split on Kosovo constitution

Kosovo's new anthem is called Europe

Kosovo's implementation of a new constitution is given a predictably mixed reception by the region's press.

While a Kosovan paper hails it as "an historic day, Serbian journals firmly support their government in not recognising the act, and Russian papers are concerned that ethnic clashes could still break out.

KOSOVO

SHKELZEN MALIQI IN EXPRESS
Another historic day adds to the series of historic days that have marked the long and winding road of Kosovan independence.

EDITORIAL IN KOSOVA SOT
The constitution gives our authorities the authority they lacked in administering the country within internationally recognised borders. The promises of the president and the prime minister that this constitution will be implemented in the entire territory raised optimistic hopes, but following Ban Ki-moon's letter [setting out how the UN administration will continue], there is little chance that Albanians will be allowed to oversee the [Serb] enclaves.

EDITORIAL IN LAJM
Our constitution is a product of the famous Ahtisaari agreement, but as such it does not recognise UNMIK [UN mission in Kosovo] as a constitutional structure after 15 June, therefore UNMIK should move on and leave Kosovo.

SERBIA

EDITORIAL IN KURIR
Serbia does not recognise the Kosovo constitution... The president of the Union of Serb Municipalities and Settlements [in Kosovo], Marko Jaksic, said yesterday that Kosovo Serbs... would clearly and loudly state that yet another Albanian state cannot be created in the Balkans.

EDITORIAL IN VECERNJE NOVOSTI
A paper for fresh divisions... While Albanian leaders consider the adoption of the constitution as the 'highest state act', Serb representatives from the province argue that the constitution is insignificant for the majority of Serb inhabitants of the province.

EDITORIAL IN POLITIKA
Serbia does not accept the declaration of the Kosovo constitution and it assesses yesterday's act of promulgating the constitution in Pristina as a legally null and void and also politically harmful act.

EDITORIAL IN DANAS
We will seek continuation of the talks about Kosovo's future. This is our strategy and response to the declaration of the illegal, so-called state of KiM [Kosovo-Metohija].

EDITORIAL IN GLAS JAVNOSTI
Shqiptars [Albanians] are playing the state once again... Interim Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu yesterday signed a Decree promulgating 40 laws, which the Albanians accept as the 'Kosovo constitution'... Belgrade rejects this illegal act.

RUSSIA

LIKA ALIKINA IN TRUD
The document proclaims the province to be an independent, sovereign, united and undivided state. By its form of government, Kosovo is a parliamentary republic.

IGOR KRYUCHKOV IN GAZETA
It seems peacekeepers will be the first who will have to ensure the 'inadmissibility of the ethnically-motivated infringement of human rights'... There are fears that clashes may break out between the Albanian majority and the Serbian minority in Kosovo.

MOSKOVSKIY KOMSOMOLETS
Under the constitution, an administration representing the Albanian majority will be in charge of the province's territory. As to who will control several areas in Kosovo populated by Serbs, this remains unclear.

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.