Kosovo's Constitution went into force June 15, handing the newly independent nation's ethnic Albanian government power after nine years of U.N. administration.

The charter — a milestone that comes four months after leaders declared independence from Serbia — gives the government in Pristina sole decision-making authority.

Kosovo's prime minister, Hashim Thaci, told local and international dignitaries the constitution comes after years of "hardship and sacrifice."

"Today the dream of the people of the Republic of Kosovo has come true," Thaci said.

However, Serbs — who make up less than 5 percent of Kosovo's population of 2 million — strongly oppose the ethnic Albanian leadership's decision to declare independence from Serbia after U.N.-mediated talks fell through last year.