Go-ahead given for Kosovo's special war crimes court

PRISTINA - Kosovo's constitutional court on Wednesday unanimously adopted an amendment on setting up a special war crimes court.

The court established that the amendment to chapters 2 and 3 of the Kosovo constitution is acceptable as it does not diminish human rights and freedoms.

After the decision of the constitutional court, the amendment should be passed by the Kosovo assembly at the end of this month or in early May, along with a law on establishing a special war crimes court.

A two-thirds majority - or 81 votes of the total 120 assembly members - will be required to pass the law.

The ruling majority has 67 members in the assembly, and the passage the law practically depends on support from minorities - which have 20 assembly members - as the opposition is against the law.

Kosovo's and international officials have warned that the UN Security Council will establish a special war crimes court in case the Kosovo assembly fails to do so.

Photo Tanjug, S. Radovanovic (illustration, archive)