Serbs OK new constitution

[Djamila]

More than half of all eligible voters cast their ballots in Serbia today, with 96% choosing to accept a new, draft constitution as the official constitution of Serbia.

For the first time since 1918, Serbia is a fully independent state - having been effectively outcasted by former partners Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Macedonia following nationalist politics against non-Serbs - up to an including wars of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

The new constitution has some good points. It removes many of the changes made by former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, including measures that were used to strip non-Serbs of certain civil rights - most notably the right to own property and the right to serve in the armed forces.

Serbia's two semi-independent regions - Vojvodina and Kosovo - have reacted to the draft constitution differently. Vojvodina, which is predominantly Serbian, was allowed to keep its autonomy including its own flag and symbols. Kosovo, which is predominantly Albanian, was not - ethnic Albanians were not even allowed to vote in today's referendum.

This is such a divisive issue because the new constitution was drafted because of Kosovo. It describes Kosovo as an "integral part" of Serbia at a time when international monitors are deciding whether or not to grant the Serbian province independence.

Serbian politicians told voters the new constitution would allow them to keep Kosovo, while international representatives said clearly it would have absolutely no effect on negotiations.

[Djamila]

Novi Sad, Vojvodina, (Serbia)


Belgrade, Serbia


Prishtina, Kosovo (Prishtina, Kosova in Albanian), (Serbia)