Italian FM: EULEX in fall

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini says that the EU Mission will be deployed in Kosovo by the fall. According to Italian news agency ANSA, after a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers in Brussels, Frattini told the press that “it is necessary to work so that we can deploy the EULEX mission on the ground during September and October.” Italian FM: EULEX in fall The UN mission began its mandate in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1244, following the NATO airstrikes against the Federal Rebublic of Yugoslavia (SRJ). The EULEX mission was launched by the EU in accordance with the plan of UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari, although it is opposed by Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council that can veto such decisions, and Serbia. "There are three things to consider," Frattini said. According to the Italian foreign minister, these include a “new intervention by the United Nations, which could ensure security in the transitional phase, a new Security Council resolution, though some countries are reluctant in this respect, or a declaration from the UN Secretary General or the Security Council president.” "These are the issues we are dealing with, because we want the transitional phase to have firm ground rules”, Frattini said. ANSA points out that Russia and China, who are both permanent members of the Security Council, oppose the changes to Resolution 1244. Pristina daily: Ban preparing reconfiguration proposal Pristina daily Zeri writes that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has prepared a proposal on reconfiguration of UNMIK following June 15, when the new Kosovo constitution becomes law. According to well-informed diplomatic sources, the proposal will contain Ban’s vision of UNMIK’s future structure, and the secretary-general will inform Serbian and Kosovo Presidents Boris Tadic and Fatmir Sejdiu of it in due course. Ban Ki Mun will write to the two heads of state to outline his proposal. The letter will, according to the daily, be a result of intensive talks taking place at UN and EU headquarters over UNMIK’s future. Russia and Serbia oppose an EU mission without UN Security Council approval. Even some EU member states are reserved about the EU mission because of its ambiguous legal basis. Certain media claim that Ban is under great pressure from the United States, while Russia insists that the UNMIK should stay in Kosovo beyond June 15.

Italian FM: EULEX in fall

The UN mission began its mandate in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1244, following the NATO airstrikes against the Federal Rebublic of Yugoslavia (SRJ).

The EULEX mission was launched by the EU in accordance with the plan of UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari, although it is opposed by Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council that can veto such decisions, and Serbia.

"There are three things to consider," Frattini said.

According to the Italian foreign minister, these include a “new intervention by the United Nations, which could ensure security in the transitional phase, a new Security Council resolution, though some countries are reluctant in this respect, or a declaration from the UN Secretary General or the Security Council president.”

"These are the issues we are dealing with, because we want the transitional phase to have firm ground rules”, Frattini said.

ANSA points out that Russia and China, who are both permanent members of the Security Council, oppose the changes to Resolution 1244.

Priština daily: Ban preparing reconfiguration proposal

Priština daily Zeri writes that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has prepared a proposal on reconfiguration of UNMIK following June 15, when the new Kosovo constitution becomes law.

According to well-informed diplomatic sources, the proposal will contain Ban’s vision of UNMIK’s future structure, and the secretary-general will inform Serbian and Kosovo Presidents Boris Tadić and Fatmir Sejdiu of it in due course.

Ban Ki Mun will write to the two heads of state to outline his proposal.

The letter will, according to the daily, be a result of intensive talks taking place at UN and EU headquarters over UNMIK’s future.

Russia and Serbia oppose an EU mission without UN Security Council approval. Even some EU member states are reserved about the EU mission because of its ambiguous legal basis.

Certain media claim that Ban is under great pressure from the United States, while Russia insists that the UNMIK should stay in Kosovo beyond June 15.