|
Kosovo: NATO ministers urge EU mission's rapid deployment
(AKI) - The speedy deployment of the European Union's police and judicial mission throughout Kosovo is an urgent priority, NATO foreign ministers said on Wednesday. "Allies welcomed the fact that the security situation remains stable and acknowledged that NATO and KFOR, bearing in mind its operational mandate, would continue to support the development of a stable, democratic, multi-ethnic and peaceful country," said a NATO statement.The European Union mission in Kosovo is due to be deployed on 9 December, EU officials announced. Nearly 2,000 EU police, justice and customs officials, will take over UN duties there, although the current UN mission (UNMIK) will retain a political role. The NATO ministers urged Kosovo and Serb authorities to fully cooperate with "all relevant actors" during the transition period. According to Serbian press agency Beta, EULEX's communication director Victor Reuter has stated the mission will take over duties for the whole territory of Kosovo, including Serb-controlled areas in the north. EULEX is expected to closely cooperate with the UN mission for safety reasons and to avoid a security vacuum. EULEX will consist of 1,900 international police, judges, prosecutors, customs and prison officers and 1,100 local employees by earlier next year when the mission is to be fully operative. Vice-president of Serbia Bozidar Djelic said on Wednesday that the EULEX deployment would be a "positive development". Kosovo has been recognised by 52 countries including the US and many EU countries since it declared independence from Serbia in February. Djelic said he was confident the EULEX mission would no longer be a source of tension between Belgrade and the European Union. Under UN Resolution 1244, the NATO-led KFOR force - currently numbering around 16,000 troops- is due to remain in Kosovo to ensure security. Posted by: Fred 2008-12-05 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=256593 |