Feith: We want EULEX in north

EU's special representative for Kosovo Pieter Feith says that EULEX could be deployed in the northern, Serb areas as part of UNMIK. Feith made this statement during a gathering in Brussels organized by Germany's Friedrich Ebert Foundation, dubbed, "100 days of Kosovo's independence, achievements and challenges". Feith: We want EULEX in north Ethnic Albanian politician Skender Hyseni, introduced as "Kosovo's foreign minister", and one of Kosovo Serb representatives, Oliver Ivanovic, also took part. Feith stressed that while EULEX is late, "this will not be a dramatic or concerning delay, because UNMIK will be present in the field and there will be no security gaps". International presence in the province is defined by UN SC Resolution 1244, and replacement of UNMIK must come at the invitation of the world organization's secretary-general. The EU diplomatic sources told Beta news agency that Brussels expects UN chief Ban Ki-moon's Secretariat to send a letter inviting EULEX to deploy in Kosovo, "where this is possible", and "as part of reconfigured UNMIK". Feith said that the parallel Serb institutions in Kosovo are the main problem and challenge and that, instead of them, it would be better for the Kosovo Serbs to open "a direct dialogue on the technical advantages of the Ahtisaari plan." "You cannot have parallel institutions and, at the same time, expect the protection provided by the Ahtisaari plan," the Dutch diplomat underscored. He urged a single legal space in Kosovo because in his words, "otherwise a chaotic situation" would be created. Feith, however, pointed out that it is necessary to wait for the Ban report on the reconfiguration of the UNMIK mission. "I do not want to prejudge what the report will say, but we hope that it will contain effective arrangements between the UN and EULEX, so that EULEX could deploy throughout Kosovo and carry out its mission according the decisions of the EU Council," he set out. Feith added that the UN would remain in Kosovo and would have certain important duties, such as representing Kosovo in some international forums and contributing to regional stability by facilitating contacts in the region. Hyseni for his part told the gathering that Pristina wants "close partnership with EULEX and the office of the International Civilian Representative ," as well as "normalization of relations with Serbia". "This is why," he stated, "we recently supported the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between the EU and Belgrade. Hiseni said that he expects Kosovo, "as an independent state, to soon enter the process of stabilization and association with the EU". Ivanovic, who ran in recent Serbian elections on the G17 Plus ticket, warned that he does not expect stability in Kosovo in the coming period, but that, for the situation to calm down, the best solution would be for Serbia to form a government made up of the Democratic Party, G17 Plus and the Socialist Party of Serbia.

Feith: We want EULEX in north

Ethnic Albanian politician Skender Hyseni, introduced as "Kosovo's foreign minister", and one of Kosovo Serb representatives, Oliver Ivanović, also took part.

Feith stressed that while EULEX is late, "this will not be a dramatic or concerning delay, because UNMIK will be present in the field and there will be no security gaps".

International presence in the province is defined by UN SC Resolution 1244, and replacement of UNMIK must come at the invitation of the world organization's secretary-general.

The EU diplomatic sources told Beta news agency that Brussels expects UN chief Ban Ki-moon's Secretariat to send a letter inviting EULEX to deploy in Kosovo, "where this is possible", and "as part of reconfigured UNMIK".

Feith said that the parallel Serb institutions in Kosovo are the main problem and challenge and that, instead of them, it would be better for the Kosovo Serbs to open "a direct dialogue on the technical advantages of the Ahtisaari plan."

"You cannot have parallel institutions and, at the same time, expect the protection provided by the Ahtisaari plan," the Dutch diplomat underscored.

He urged a single legal space in Kosovo because in his words, "otherwise a chaotic situation" would be created.

Feith, however, pointed out that it is necessary to wait for the Ban report on the reconfiguration of the UNMIK mission.

"I do not want to prejudge what the report will say, but we hope that it will contain effective arrangements between the UN and EULEX, so that EULEX could deploy throughout Kosovo and carry out its mission according the decisions of the EU Council," he set out.

Feith added that the UN would remain in Kosovo and would have certain important duties, such as representing Kosovo in some international forums and contributing to regional stability by facilitating contacts in the region.

Hyseni for his part told the gathering that Priština wants "close partnership with EULEX and the office of the International Civilian Representative ," as well as "normalization of relations with Serbia".

"This is why," he stated, "we recently supported the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between the EU and Belgrade.

Hiseni said that he expects Kosovo, "as an independent state, to soon enter the process of stabilization and association with the EU".

Ivanović, who ran in recent Serbian elections on the G17 Plus ticket, warned that he does not expect stability in Kosovo in the coming period, but that, for the situation to calm down, the best solution would be for Serbia to form a government made up of the Democratic Party, G17 Plus and the Socialist Party of Serbia.