Kosovo independence may be delayed?

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.