Thousands of Kosovar citizens took to the streets of Prishtina last week to protest a United Nations proposal to increase Serbia's influence in Kosovo.

The proposalput forth by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in consultation with the Serbian governmentwould give Serbia broad administrative powers over Serb majority areas within the Republic of Kosovo. These would include control of the policejudiciary, transportation and infrastructureboundariescustoms and religious sites. 

Civil society groups fear that the proposal would essentially partition Kosovo by putting a third of the country's territory under Serbian controland pave the way for the equivalent of the Bosnian Serb enclave (Republika Srpska) within Kosovo's borders.

Last week's march opposing the move was organized by more than 20 Kosovar civil society organizationsincluding the Kosova Women's Network (KWN)a partner of The Advocacy Project (AP). "KWN fully supports citizens in this effortagreeing that any political decision concerning Kosovo should be made by citizens rather than imposed by outside international bodies," the group said in a statement.

The UN proposal came after Serbia refused to accept the deployment of the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) in northern Kosovo, which is supposed to gradually replace the UN administration there. Serbia asserts that UN Security Council Resolution 1244passed at the end of the 1998-1999 conflict between Serbs and Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majorityonly gives the UN administrative powers in Kosovo. This resolution also refers to Kosovo as Serbia's "southern province," not as an independent state. 

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008 and has been recognized by 52 UN member statesincluding 22 European Union members and all bordering states except Serbia. KWN and other civil society groups contend that the new UN proposal would threaten Kosovo's territorial sovereigntyviolate its constitutionand jeopardize the fragile peace that has been secured in Southeast Europe. 

The protesters also point out that many Serbs who live in enclaves in Kosovo are opposed to increased Serbian governmental influence. Kosovo's constitution already guarantees Serb representation in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovoseats as Ministers and Deputy Ministersaccess to media in the Serb languagerepresentation on the Kosovo Judicial Council and national language rights. Efforts have also been made to include Serb citizens in public institutionssuch as the police force. 

KWN and other civil society organizations are calling for international pressure on Serbia to accept the independence of Kosovo and the deployment of the EULEX mission. They also want the Serbian government to support the Kosovo Status Settlementproposed by UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari. This would grant Kosovo a flaganthemand the right to make international agreements and seek membership in international institutions. 

Such recognitionas well as retribution for crimes committed against the citizens of Kosovo in 1998 and 1999should be a precondition for Serbia to join the EUthey said.