EULEX 'Not Part of UN's Kosovo Mission'

Pristina _ The European Union’s new law and order mission will not be acting under the umbrella of the UN, the EULEX chief says.

“It will be a European mission…and this has been emphasised by all of the EU members,” Yves de Kermabon told media during a visit to the western town of Klina on Sunday, adding briefly that his mission will “certainly not be under the United Nations.”

The deployment of EU’s law and order mission, EULEX, to Kosovo, was envisaged under the blueprint for Kosovo’s ‘supervised independence’ devised by former UN envoy for Kosovo’s final status, Martti Ahtisaari.

However the mission has been opposed by Serbia and chief ally, Russia, who argue only the UN, which has administered Kosovo on Belgrade’s behalf since 1999, is the sole international body allowed there.

The UN Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK says it is ‘reconfiguring’ following Kosovo’s February 17 declaration of independence but it has also given signals that it will not end by June 15, when Kosovo’s constitution enters into force.

EULEX was supposed to complete its full deployment by June 15 but Kermabon said earlier last week that EULEX will not be fully operational by then.

“This mission… will be placed across Kosovo in its entirety but perhaps there will be a slight delay due to the current situation,” Kermabon said admitting that the current situation is related to “political and technical circumstances.”
 
The UN’s reluctance to leave and Serbia’s vehement opposition are believed to be key factors.

Around 250 members of the staff of EULEX have so far arrived in Kosovo, and Kermabon stresses that the earlier it starts, the better.