Kosovo: Constitution is approved,

The latest: Kosovo's legislature unanimously adopted a constitution on Wednesday, paving the way for local leaders to take over authority from the United Nations administration that has run the territory since the end of the 1998-99 war with Serbia. The constitution takes effect on June 15.

From Article 1:
"
The Republic of Kosovo is an independent, sovereign, democratic, unique and indivisible state . . . The Republic of Kosovo shall have no territorial claims against, and shall seek no union with, any State or part of any State.""

It also states that "Albanian and Serbian are the official languages of Kosovo".

E.U. role: Kosovo's leaders will remain supervised by a European Union-led mission with veto power.

Protections for minorities: The constitution includes broad protections for Serbs and other minorities. That is a key issue because many of Kosovo's Serbs fear they will not be safe in the newly independent province, which is 90 percent ethnic Albanian.

President Fatmir Sejdiu said the document was an important step in the state-building process and signals Kosovo's commitment to creating a society of equal citizens.

Opposition in Belgrade: Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February. Despite the pledges to protect the Serb minority, Belgrade remains opposed to the territory's independence.

Youngest country: The 120-seat assembly approved the constitution amid thunderous applause.

"We have the privilege to belong to this generation that is approving the highest legal act of the world's youngest country," Sejdiu told the assembly."

Kosovo's status: The United States and many European nations have recognized Kosovo's statehood. Serbia and its ally Russia have opposed it.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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