EULEX chief: Barricades need to be removed

EULEX Chief Xavier Bout de Marnhac has stated that barricades in northern Kosovo should be removed in order to restore freedom of movement for everyone. He pointed out that this was a prerequisite for the rule of law. EULEX chief: Barricades need to be removed “I cannot stress enough the fact that the barricades in the north should come down and that there should be permanent and unconditional access for everyone, including EULEX and international organizations,” de Marnhac told SETimes. “The restoration of free movement is an absolute prerequisite for effective rule of law throughout Kosovo, which we are trying to achieve,” he added. “Therefore it is important that there is full movement on the roads of northern Kosovo, not only for EULEX and KFOR, but also for the people so they can go about their normal, every day lives. EULEX and KFOR continue to work very closely together, cooperating on a daily basis,” the EULEX chief noted. “EULEX will play a role in regard to the Integrated Border Management (IBM) agreement, however, the precise role will be defined over time,” said de Marnhac. Commenting on the prosecuting of war crimes cases in Kosovo, de Marnhac said that EULEX was cooperating on daily basis with their local counterparts, including when conducting investigations. “We have had good cooperation with Kosovo authorities in implementing our mandate. I should mention is that it is the individuals that are prosecuted on alleged crimes that were committed, and not groups or organization,” he underlined. “EULEX has its own Witness Security Program which is in operation in Kosovo and beyond. It is staffed by officers who have considerable experience in this highly sensitive and important area. I cannot go into names or details or numbers, because that is the whole point of it - it must remain secret for the safety and security of those individuals and their families who pass through the program. But I can tell you that the program has been repeatedly tested and many people have used, and are using it. EULEX has developed this program in order to help Kosovo deal with some of its most difficult and challenging court cases,” de Marnhac pointed out. Xavier Bout de Marnhac (Beta, file)

EULEX chief: Barricades need to be removed

“I cannot stress enough the fact that the barricades in the north should come down and that there should be permanent and unconditional access for everyone, including EULEX and international organizations,” de Marnhac told SETimes.

“The restoration of free movement is an absolute prerequisite for effective rule of law throughout Kosovo, which we are trying to achieve,” he added.

“Therefore it is important that there is full movement on the roads of northern Kosovo, not only for EULEX and KFOR, but also for the people so they can go about their normal, every day lives. EULEX and KFOR continue to work very closely together, cooperating on a daily basis,” the EULEX chief noted.

“EULEX will play a role in regard to the Integrated Border Management (IBM) agreement, however, the precise role will be defined over time,” said de Marnhac.

Commenting on the prosecuting of war crimes cases in Kosovo, de Marnhac said that EULEX was cooperating on daily basis with their local counterparts, including when conducting investigations.

“We have had good cooperation with Kosovo authorities in implementing our mandate. I should mention is that it is the individuals that are prosecuted on alleged crimes that were committed, and not groups or organization,” he underlined.

“EULEX has its own Witness Security Program which is in operation in Kosovo and beyond. It is staffed by officers who have considerable experience in this highly sensitive and important area. I cannot go into names or details or numbers, because that is the whole point of it - it must remain secret for the safety and security of those individuals and their families who pass through the program. But I can tell you that the program has been repeatedly tested and many people have used, and are using it. EULEX has developed this program in order to help Kosovo deal with some of its most difficult and challenging court cases,” de Marnhac pointed out.