Thaci still silent on declaration date

Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has held a news conference in Pristina today. According to Beta news agency, he "told reporters that the ethnic Albanians will adopt a declaration during this meeting proclaiming the territory's independence from Serbia." But the news coming from Pristina now suggest that he did not give a date for the Kosovo assembly to meet on this issue. Thaci still silent on declaration date However, his spokesman was earlier today quoted by AFP news agency as saying that the session will be called for Sunday, Feb. 17. Serbia for its part will reject this move as illegal and contrary to international law. Earlier in the week, the cabinet passed a decision to declare a proclamation of Kosovo's independence null and void as soon as it is adopted. Belgrade has support for this from Russia, which will translate to the blocking of any move by Pristina to be recognized by the UN Security Council, and consequently become a UN member state. But a number of countries, including the United States and some EU members, are expected to unilaterally recognize Kosovo as an independent state. Belgrade will counter this with a set of measures dubbed the government Action Plan, the exact content of which is still labeled a state secret. Kosovo daily gives details of independence declaration Pristina Albanian language daily Zeri published key points that would reportedly be found in Kosovo's independence declaration. According to the newpaper, the declaration, expected to be adopted on Sunday, will include three key points – proclaiming independence, an obligation to implement Martti Ahtisaari's plan for internationally-supervised independence and a call for the European Union mission to come to Kosovo and NATO to keep its peacekeeping forces in the province. The declaration is expected to be adopted by the Kosovo parliament with 109 of its 120 representatives in attendance, the daily writes today. The declaration, set to proclaims Kosovo an "independent and sovereign state" will includes parts of the preamble of the province's proposed constitution which states that "Kosovo is the country of all of its citizens." The parliament is also expected to adopt laws for Kosovo's flag and coat-of-arms at the meeting, according to Zeri. The question of Kosovo's national anthem will be taken care of later, the daily writes, adding that the anthem of the European Union will be played at the ceremonial session. The parliament would also swiftly adopt the constitution and five laws from the package of 34 proposed with Ahtisaari's plan. The Kosovo government claims that the international civilian mission has been forwarded ten laws from the Ahtisaari package already.

Thaci still silent on declaration date

However, his spokesman was earlier today quoted by AFP news agency as saying that the session will be called for Sunday, Feb. 17.

Serbia for its part will reject this move as illegal and contrary to international law. Earlier in the week, the cabinet passed a decision to declare a proclamation of Kosovo's independence null and void as soon as it is adopted.

Belgrade has support for this from Russia, which will translate to the blocking of any move by Priština to be recognized by the UN Security Council, and consequently become a UN member state.

But a number of countries, including the United States and some EU members, are expected to unilaterally recognize Kosovo as an independent state.

Belgrade will counter this with a set of measures dubbed the government Action Plan, the exact content of which is still labeled a state secret.

Kosovo daily gives details of independence declaration

Priština Albanian language daily Zeri published key points that would reportedly be found in Kosovo's independence declaration.

According to the newpaper, the declaration, expected to be adopted on Sunday, will include three key points – proclaiming independence, an obligation to implement Martti Ahtisaari's plan for internationally-supervised independence and a call for the European Union mission to come to Kosovo and NATO to keep its peacekeeping forces in the province.

The declaration is expected to be adopted by the Kosovo parliament with 109 of its 120 representatives in attendance, the daily writes today.

The declaration, set to proclaims Kosovo an "independent and sovereign state" will includes parts of the preamble of the province's proposed constitution which states that "Kosovo is the country of all of its citizens."

The parliament is also expected to adopt laws for Kosovo's flag and coat-of-arms at the meeting, according to Zeri.

The question of Kosovo's national anthem will be taken care of later, the daily writes, adding that the anthem of the European Union will be played at the ceremonial session.

The parliament would also swiftly adopt the constitution and five laws from the package of 34 proposed with Ahtisaari's plan.

The Kosovo government claims that the international civilian mission has been forwarded ten laws from the Ahtisaari package already.