UNMIK: Dramatic changes in Kosovo

An UNMIK spokesman in Pristina today said that the situation in Kosovo would "change dramatically" after June 15. However, Tanjug news agency says in its report, Alexander Ivanko did not give details of these changes due to take place after the Kosovo constitution comes into force. UNMIK: Dramatic changes in Kosovo "On June 16 the situation in the field will change dramatically. We expect to receive urgent instructions from New York, and the reconfiguration decision, which should be made in the next few days, should be reached through consultations between the EU and the UN," Ivanko told reporters. He said that the decision on the reorganization of UNMIK would be made over the next few days. "As soon as we receive instructions, we will be able to inform you in detail about the UN's future presence in Kosovo," Ivanko stated, adding that at present he "cannot give the details of the reorganization as additional instructions are expected". The UNMIK spokesman underscored that the UN mission "fully supports the Kosovo institutions in all their aspects". "We understand that the north represents a problem, and it is clear to us that this problem will not be resolved tomorrow or the day after. It will require time and we hope that the Kosovo institutions and the other international factors will be very careful in the resolution of this problem," Ivanko set out. He added that UNMIK's priority is the return of the customs officials to the Brnjak and Jarinje administrative crossings in northern Kosovo and that, "if this is not possible, there is the option that these crossings could be closed to commercial traffic," but added that this decision "is yet to be made". "EULEX has no legal basis" Meanwhile in Belgrade, Kosovo Ministry Secretary of State Dusan Prorokovic, DSS, said that the EU's planned mission, EULEX, does not have a legal basis for being present in the province, nor does it have the approval of the United Nations Security Council to implement the Ahtisaari plan. He also pointed out that UNMIK is "the only legal and legitimate international civilian mission in Kosovo and Metohija". "References to Ahtisaari's plan by anyone from EULEX or by ethnic Albanian officials from Pristina have absolutely no basis in international law," Prorokovic said in a statement for Tanjug. EULEX chief Yves de Kermabon yesterday announced that this mission is being deployed in the entire territory of Kosovo and that its objective is to support and assist the institutions of Kosovo. An additional framework is required for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 because of the new circumstances, Prorokovic said, "but also in order to reverse some of the moves made since February 17, when the unilateral independence of the province was proclaimed, into legal frameworks". He also warned that "anything that is founded on disrespect of the law can only produce additional tensions and increase the already large potential for conflict in the region".

UNMIK: Dramatic changes in Kosovo

"On June 16 the situation in the field will change dramatically. We expect to receive urgent instructions from New York, and the reconfiguration decision, which should be made in the next few days, should be reached through consultations between the EU and the UN," Ivanko told reporters.

He said that the decision on the reorganization of UNMIK would be made over the next few days.

"As soon as we receive instructions, we will be able to inform you in detail about the UN's future presence in Kosovo," Ivanko stated, adding that at present he "cannot give the details of the reorganization as additional instructions are expected".

The UNMIK spokesman underscored that the UN mission "fully supports the Kosovo institutions in all their aspects".

"We understand that the north represents a problem, and it is clear to us that this problem will not be resolved tomorrow or the day after. It will require time and we hope that the Kosovo institutions and the other international factors will be very careful in the resolution of this problem," Ivanko set out.

He added that UNMIK's priority is the return of the customs officials to the Brnjak and Jarinje administrative crossings in northern Kosovo and that, "if this is not possible, there is the option that these crossings could be closed to commercial traffic," but added that this decision "is yet to be made".

"EULEX has no legal basis"

Meanwhile in Belgrade, Kosovo Ministry Secretary of State Dušan Proroković, DSS, said that the EU's planned mission, EULEX, does not have a legal basis for being present in the province, nor does it have the approval of the United Nations Security Council to implement the Ahtisaari plan.

He also pointed out that UNMIK is "the only legal and legitimate international civilian mission in Kosovo and Metohija".

"References to Ahtisaari's plan by anyone from EULEX or by ethnic Albanian officials from Priština have absolutely no basis in international law," Proroković said in a statement for Tanjug.

EULEX chief Yves de Kermabon yesterday announced that this mission is being deployed in the entire territory of Kosovo and that its objective is to support and assist the institutions of Kosovo.

An additional framework is required for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 because of the new circumstances, Proroković said, "but also in order to reverse some of the moves made since February 17, when the unilateral independence of the province was proclaimed, into legal frameworks".

He also warned that "anything that is founded on disrespect of the law can only produce additional tensions and increase the already large potential for conflict in the region".