Kosovo independence may be delayed?February 1, 2008 - 13:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has hinted at a possible delay before an independence declaration, dampening speculation that it may be imminent. "On independence day, Kosovo will have finished preparing the constitution, as well as the state symbols," Mr Thaci said. Public debate on the constitution had already started, he said, and there was no point talking about days or hours. Mr Thaci said that the aim was for Kosovo's politicians, institutions and citizens to move into independence as one. "I believe it is not necessary to discuss whether it the proclamation of independence is a matter of hours, days or minutes, or whether it will happen this Sunday, this Tuesday or Thursday," he said. "It is important that Kosovo is in the end phase of the official preparations for organizing the proclamation of independence," Mr Thaci said adding that an independence declaration would be made in co-ordination with the EU and the U.S. It is not clear how long Kosovo's constitutional debate will last, but political observers in the provincial capital Pristina say it is unlikely to take more than two weeks. Recently Mr Thaci said a declaration of independence was "an issue of days", BBC reports. Serbia strongly opposes a UN plan for Kosovo independence. But the U.S. and many countries within the European Union support it. Russia insists on an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |