Serbia expected to reject UN Kosovo plan

Serbia’s new parliament today convenes to reject a UN plan that gives Kosovo virtual independence, shattering a compromise for the breakaway province.

The assembly, meeting in its inaugural session after last month’s elections, plans to adopt a resolution saying the UN proposal drafted by envoy Martti Ahtisaari “breaches fundamental principles of the international law because it ignores sovereignty and the territorial integrity” of Serbia.

The plan, welcomed by Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian leadership, envisages self-rule for the southern province, including a flag, anthem, army, constitution and the right to join international organisations.

“Giving Kosovo prerogatives of a sovereign state ... is a dangerous precedent, bearing in mind minority questions and territorial disputes in Europe and worldwide,” the Serbian government said in its document, which the parliament is now expected to overwhelmingly uphold.