Another U.N. official said the proposal to issue U.N. travel documents, akin to temporary passports, to Kosovo residents has also met with opposition at U.N. headquarters. The Yugoslav government is angry that such measures are even being considered. Stanimir Vukicevic, its top representative in Pristina, says that Kouchner has weakened Yugoslavia's links with Kosovo. The customs service employs not even one Serb. There is no Yugoslav flag at border crossings . . .
Currency is a part of sovereignty.
Russia, an ally of Belgrade that has 3,600 soldiers in Kosovo as part of the peacekeeping force, has also objected to any moves that weaken Yugoslav sovereignty. An illustration of the new U.S. attitude was on display earlier this week, when Washington was more supportive than its European allies of a plan to allow Kosovo Liberation Army members to form a new Kosovo corps that ostensibly will be responsible for humanitarian tasks but also will be allowed to train with weapons. The KLA's leaders have said they view the organization as Kosovo's future army. A senior U.S. official indicated that discussion of independence was premature, but left open the possibility that it would happen. He said the administration wants the Kosovo Albanians to focus immediately on the hard work of building democracy and a free economy.