Solana: EU mission to act in all of Kosovo

EU Javier Solana was in Pristina on Tuesday for meetings with the province's top officials. His visit came two days after ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared secession from Serbia. Belgrade officially rejected it, and recognition from the EU's major countries, as illegal. Solana: EU mission to act in all of Kosovo Yesterday, Solana said that the EU mission in Kosovo would do its job on the entire territory of the province, Beta news agency said. His statement said as Serbs in the north set several police and UN checkpoints on fire and said they rejected the authority of Pristina. After meeting with Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci and President Fatmir Sejdiu, Solana said the EU had shown its "unanimity on Kosovo at the Feb. 18 meeting of ministers and its decision to form the EULEX mission in Kosovo." "The EU is unanimous on Kosovo and that is demonstrated by the fact that we will form our mission here. The EU mission will be established over the entire territory of Kosovo. Different member countries have their internal procedures for the new reality in Kosovo. Member countries can recognize its independence and they are doing so," Solana said. The ministerial meeting in Brussels on Monday came up with a Kosovo statement that reflected the fact Cyprus and Spain led a group of countries who are opposed to the recognition of the unilateral moves, endorsed by large EU states. Solana added that the EU would continue to be involved in Kosovo and urged the leaders and people of Kosovo to "transform the celebration of the last few days into positive energy for building Kosovo." Solana went on to say that Kosovo "had a European perspective and that the EU mission would assist Kosovo institutions in the forthcoming period." Asked what the EU would do about the fact that the Serbs in northern Kosovo do not accept the EU mission, Solana replied the mission "had to do its job on the entire territory," but he did not elaborate on the measures that Brussels intends to undertake in order to achieve this. Solana arrived to Pristina on Feb. 19, accompanied by future EULEX head, French Gen. Yves de Kermabon and EU envoy to Kosovo Pieter Feith. Thaci shows Solana the design of a flag Pristina adopted (FoNet)

Solana: EU mission to act in all of Kosovo

Yesterday, Solana said that the EU mission in Kosovo would do its job on the entire territory of the province, Beta news agency said.

His statement said as Serbs in the north set several police and UN checkpoints on fire and said they rejected the authority of Priština.

After meeting with Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci and President Fatmir Sejdiu, Solana said the EU had shown its "unanimity on Kosovo at the Feb. 18 meeting of ministers and its decision to form the EULEX mission in Kosovo."

"The EU is unanimous on Kosovo and that is demonstrated by the fact that we will form our mission here. The EU mission will be established over the entire territory of Kosovo. Different member countries have their internal procedures for the new reality in Kosovo. Member countries can recognize its independence and they are doing so," Solana said.

The ministerial meeting in Brussels on Monday came up with a Kosovo statement that reflected the fact Cyprus and Spain led a group of countries who are opposed to the recognition of the unilateral moves, endorsed by large EU states.

Solana added that the EU would continue to be involved in Kosovo and urged the leaders and people of Kosovo to "transform the celebration of the last few days into positive energy for building Kosovo."

Solana went on to say that Kosovo "had a European perspective and that the EU mission would assist Kosovo institutions in the forthcoming period."

Asked what the EU would do about the fact that the Serbs in northern Kosovo do not accept the EU mission, Solana replied the mission "had to do its job on the entire territory," but he did not elaborate on the measures that Brussels intends to undertake in order to achieve this.

Solana arrived to Priština on Feb. 19, accompanied by future EULEX head, French Gen. Yves de Kermabon and EU envoy to Kosovo Pieter Feith.