Daily: Moscow opposes UNMIK reconfiguration

Moscow opposes reconfiguration of the UN mission in Kosovo, writes Pristina daily Zeri, citing diplomatic sources. “Moscow officials are dead against the letter explaining the UNMIK reconfiguration process that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has prepared,” the daily writes, citing very well-informed diplomatic sources close to the UN. Daily: Moscow opposes UNMIK reconfiguration According to Zeri, the same sources say that Ban’s letter is short but very informative, and states that the UN’s clear aim is to readjust as close as possible to the reality in Kosovo, to new developments, especially in regard to relations between the International Civil Office and the EU mission in the fields of justice and policing. In the letter, Ban states that his special representative will oversee the international civil presence in Kosovo on the basis of its mandate stipulated in Resolution 1244, but that the EU’s new role in Kosovo will be taken into consideration, as envisaged by agreements reached at the meeting of EU heads of state and government on December 14. Ban also plans to scale down UNMIK’s role, while scaling up that of the EU in the fields of law and order. Relations between the UNMIK mission and the two EU missions in Kosovo—the International Civil Office and EULEX—should be clarified in an agreement between the UN and EU. According to reports, EULEX will slowly assume authority for policing, justice and customs, while UNMIK, under the proposal in the letter, will deal with overseeing and reporting on implementation of international agreements, borders, and will try to facilitate dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, while also attempting to reach a consensus between the UNMIK chief and the Serbian government in six fields currently under discussion between the head of the UN office in Belgrade and the Serbian authorities.

Daily: Moscow opposes UNMIK reconfiguration

According to Zeri, the same sources say that Ban’s letter is short but very informative, and states that the UN’s clear aim is to readjust as close as possible to the reality in Kosovo, to new developments, especially in regard to relations between the International Civil Office and the EU mission in the fields of justice and policing.

In the letter, Ban states that his special representative will oversee the international civil presence in Kosovo on the basis of its mandate stipulated in Resolution 1244, but that the EU’s new role in Kosovo will be taken into consideration, as envisaged by agreements reached at the meeting of EU heads of state and government on December 14.

Ban also plans to scale down UNMIK’s role, while scaling up that of the EU in the fields of law and order.

Relations between the UNMIK mission and the two EU missions in Kosovo—the International Civil Office and EULEX—should be clarified in an agreement between the UN and EU.

According to reports, EULEX will slowly assume authority for policing, justice and customs, while UNMIK, under the proposal in the letter, will deal with overseeing and reporting on implementation of international agreements, borders, and will try to facilitate dialogue between Priština and Belgrade, while also attempting to reach a consensus between the UNMIK chief and the Serbian government in six fields currently under discussion between the head of the UN office in Belgrade and the Serbian authorities.