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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Serbia backs draft constitution | Serbia backs draft constitution |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Serbian voters have approved a national referendum asserting that Kosovo is an integral part of the country, independent monitors have said. | Serbian voters have approved a national referendum asserting that Kosovo is an integral part of the country, independent monitors have said. |
| Preliminary results show 51.6% of the electorate voted in favour of adopting the new constitution. | Preliminary results show 51.6% of the electorate voted in favour of adopting the new constitution. |
| The document required the approval of half of all registered voters for it to come into force. | The document required the approval of half of all registered voters for it to come into force. |
| Once the result was clear, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said: "This is a great moment for Serbia." | Once the result was clear, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said: "This is a great moment for Serbia." |
| BBC correspondent Nick Hawton said despite broad political consensus in support of the constitution, and a strong publicity campaign, there had been little enthusiasm among the public about the referendum. | BBC correspondent Nick Hawton said despite broad political consensus in support of the constitution, and a strong publicity campaign, there had been little enthusiasm among the public about the referendum. |
| The ballot was held even though Kosovo has been under UN control since the end of conflict in 1999. | The ballot was held even though Kosovo has been under UN control since the end of conflict in 1999. |
| The constitution is Serbia's first following the break-up of Yugoslavia. | The constitution is Serbia's first following the break-up of Yugoslavia. |
| The draft pre-empts UN-backed talks on the status of Kosovo, which are meant to draft a settlement by the year-end. | The draft pre-empts UN-backed talks on the status of Kosovo, which are meant to draft a settlement by the year-end. |
| 'European standards' | 'European standards' |
| Serbia became an independent country earlier this year when its union with neighbouring Montenegro was formally dissolved. | Serbia became an independent country earlier this year when its union with neighbouring Montenegro was formally dissolved. |
| No-one in Kosovo is paying any attention to the referendum Azem Vllasi, lawyer Send us your comments | No-one in Kosovo is paying any attention to the referendum Azem Vllasi, lawyer Send us your comments |
| About 6.5 million people were entitled to vote in the national referendum. The referendum was held over two days in an effort to attract as many voters as possible. | About 6.5 million people were entitled to vote in the national referendum. The referendum was held over two days in an effort to attract as many voters as possible. |
| Among the constitution's 200 articles are guarantees for minority and human rights and the granting of a form of self-rule for the province of Vojvodina. | Among the constitution's 200 articles are guarantees for minority and human rights and the granting of a form of self-rule for the province of Vojvodina. |
| It also calls for the end of the death penalty - and a ban on human cloning. | It also calls for the end of the death penalty - and a ban on human cloning. |
| "It is a new beginning in the sense that in article one it states that Serbia is a state which is based on European standards and values," senior government adviser Vladeta Jankovic said. | |
| "[This] is an expression of our commitment to the European Union and our hope to join it in the foreseeable future," he added. | "[This] is an expression of our commitment to the European Union and our hope to join it in the foreseeable future," he added. |
| Kosovo Albanians, who make up around 90% of the province's two million population, were not able to vote as they were not included on voters lists after boycotting Serbian elections since 1990. | Kosovo Albanians, who make up around 90% of the province's two million population, were not able to vote as they were not included on voters lists after boycotting Serbian elections since 1990. |
| "No-one in Kosovo is paying any attention to the referendum," ethnic Albanian lawyer Azem Vllasi told AFP news agency. | "No-one in Kosovo is paying any attention to the referendum," ethnic Albanian lawyer Azem Vllasi told AFP news agency. |
| "Moreover, its outcome cannot in any way prejudice a solution to the final status of Kosovo," he said. | "Moreover, its outcome cannot in any way prejudice a solution to the final status of Kosovo," he said. |