BELGRADE - Main political parties in Serbia on Friday reached an agreement on the draft of a new constitution that would underline its sovereignty over the UN-run province of Kosovo before its future status is determined.
"Thanks to the constructive attitude of all political parties early this morning a new draft for a constitution was adopted," Public Administration Minister Zoran Loncar said.
The Serbian parliament was to convene on Saturday to debate and eventually adopt the draft, paving the way for approval at a referendum, the final step requested by the current constitution.
Local media have speculated that the referendum may be held in late October or early November.
Having failed to change the constitution for six years since democratic changes were imposed in Serbia, Belgrade is now rushing to adopt one whose preamble will specifically mention Kosovo as a part of Serbia, before the final status of the UN-administered province is solved.
Kosovo`s 90-percent ethnic Albanian majority wants the province to be independent, a move strongly opposed by Serbia which only offers large autonomy.
The international community insists that UN-sponsored talks on the future status of Kosovo be wound up by the end of the year.
Technically still a Serbian province, Kosovo has become an international protectorate since the end of the 1998-1999 conflict between Belgrade`s armed forces and ethnic Albanian separatist guerrillas.
"It will be a good thing if the constitution is adopted by parliament tomorrow," Finance Minister Mladjan Dinkic told reporters.
"Then we will launch a campaign for a referendum that will be followed by new (legislative) elections. That is the best solution for Serbia at the moment," he added.
09/29/2006 15:53 GMT