Ruecker: EULEX under UN auspices

UNMIK Chief Joachim Ruecker says UNMIK will adjust to any kind of situation after June 15. Ruecker added that there was a chance that the EU mission in Kosovo could come under UN auspices. Ruecker: EULEX under UN auspices "I don’t see it as a huge challenge, I believe everyone understands that an operation like EULEX needs a clear chain of command. On the other hand, that could be under some kind of UN auspices, but as I said—it’s not up to me to make such decisions. There are talks ongoing between New York and Brussels,” said the UNMIK chief. "All I can say is that I’m certain that we’ll soon know how we’re going to be set up in the rule of law sector,” he said. Yesterday, UNMIK spokesman Russell Geekie said that the UN mission would remain in Kosovo beyond June 15 and that he had yet to receive instructions about the mission's role following that date. Under the EU’s plans for the deployment of its EULEX mission to Kosovo to replace UNMIK, June 15 was until recently touted as the deadline for the transfer of powers. Speaking at a press conference in Pristina on Wednesday, Russell Geekie said that UNMIK would remain in Kosovo beyond June 15, and that so far there were no instructions concerning UNMIK’s reconfiguration. “Our powers have not been reduced. UNMIK will exist even after June 15. However, I am not certain about its powers, but a corresponding organ will exist after this date. We are aware of the situation on the ground and of all that can happen after the constitution comes into force,” Geekie explained. He refused to comment on claims that the Kosovo assembly would not seek the UNMIK chief's signature on the new constitution, adding that UNMIK was considering how to react after that development. Nor could Kosovo Police Service (KPS) spokesman Veton Elshani say what actual powers the KPS would have after June 15. He said that the KPS remained an organ of the Kosovo authorities, denying that the police would prohibit Serbian number plates in Kosovo. “We have no information that anything like this will be conducted linked to documentation. We are maintaining peace and order. UNMIK Chief Joachim Ruecker has extended the decision on the use of the current travel documents in Kosovo for a further six months, and we are implementing that decision,” Elshani stressed. Joachim Ruecker (FoNet, archive) NATO, UN leaders discuss Kosovo Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer have met to discuss the future of Kosovo. ''The meeting focused on Kosovo, with the secretary-general sharing his vision for the way forward while taking note of NATO's concerns," Ban's office specified "in a cryptic readout on the discussion on the situations in Kosovo and in Afghanistan", DPA news agency reported. NATO leaders, the agency said, are concerned that a delay to the planned handover of authority from UNMIK to the EU mission in Kosovo could leave KFOR force at risk of being drawn into a civilian policing role. "We don't want KFOR to be in the position of first responder: it's not a police force, it should not be put in the position of being a police force. It is not mandated to play that role, our soldiers are not equipped or trained to play that role, and we should not ask them to do that," NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.

Ruecker: EULEX under UN auspices

"I don’t see it as a huge challenge, I believe everyone understands that an operation like EULEX needs a clear chain of command. On the other hand, that could be under some kind of UN auspices, but as I said—it’s not up to me to make such decisions. There are talks ongoing between New York and Brussels,” said the UNMIK chief.

"All I can say is that I’m certain that we’ll soon know how we’re going to be set up in the rule of law sector,” he said.

Yesterday, UNMIK spokesman Russell Geekie said that the UN mission would remain in Kosovo beyond June 15 and that he had yet to receive instructions about the mission's role following that date.

Under the EU’s plans for the deployment of its EULEX mission to Kosovo to replace UNMIK, June 15 was until recently touted as the deadline for the transfer of powers.

Speaking at a press conference in Priština on Wednesday, Russell Geekie said that UNMIK would remain in Kosovo beyond June 15, and that so far there were no instructions concerning UNMIK’s reconfiguration.

“Our powers have not been reduced. UNMIK will exist even after June 15. However, I am not certain about its powers, but a corresponding organ will exist after this date. We are aware of the situation on the ground and of all that can happen after the constitution comes into force,” Geekie explained.

He refused to comment on claims that the Kosovo assembly would not seek the UNMIK chief's signature on the new constitution, adding that UNMIK was considering how to react after that development.

Nor could Kosovo Police Service (KPS) spokesman Veton Elshani say what actual powers the KPS would have after June 15.

He said that the KPS remained an organ of the Kosovo authorities, denying that the police would prohibit Serbian number plates in Kosovo.

“We have no information that anything like this will be conducted linked to documentation. We are maintaining peace and order. UNMIK Chief Joachim Ruecker has extended the decision on the use of the current travel documents in Kosovo for a further six months, and we are implementing that decision,” Elshani stressed.

NATO, UN leaders discuss Kosovo

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer have met to discuss the future of Kosovo.

''The meeting focused on Kosovo, with the secretary-general sharing his vision for the way forward while taking note of NATO's concerns," Ban's office specified "in a cryptic readout on the discussion on the situations in Kosovo and in Afghanistan", DPA news agency reported.

NATO leaders, the agency said, are concerned that a delay to the planned handover of authority from UNMIK to the EU mission in Kosovo could leave KFOR force at risk of being drawn into a civilian policing role.

"We don't want KFOR to be in the position of first responder: it's not a police force, it should not be put in the position of being a police force. It is not mandated to play that role, our soldiers are not equipped or trained to play that role, and we should not ask them to do that," NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.