"EULEX deal has been made"

The EU has in fact struck a deal with Belgrade to deploy its mission, dubbed EULEX, in Kosovo, Albanian language daily Koha Ditore writes today. The Pristina newspaper is quoting its Brussels sources who said that two days ago, European Commission's GD Enlargement Western Balkans Director Pierre Mirrel "told the truth in Belgrade, when he said that the EU has accepted Belgrade's conditions to set up EULEX, although he has not been authorized to speak about that mission". "EULEX deal has been made" Yesterday, EU's representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith denied that an agreement was reached, while top Serbian officials maintain that they are not negotiating with the EU, but "only with the UN". Koha Ditore also explains that EULEX is under EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana's jurisdiction, while the EC influences EULEX only is setting its budget, that must be approved by the European Parliament. As for the deal, the EU sources confirm that "officially" it has not been reached. "Diplomats are explaining that 'officially' nothing has been agreed upon, because, officially, negotiations are not taking place, so there can be no agreement. The EU is making efforts to reach a solution in its meetings with Belgrade and New York that will not be called 'agreement'. In other words, it will not be a document with which the EU would accept Belgrade's conditions, although in principle, it has accepted them," the daily reports. The EU says, the article continues, that there will be no specific statement that the Ahtisaari plan will not be implemented – this, in order to "console" Pristina – while at the same time, no document will mention this plan's implementation – in order not to upset Belgrade. However, the diplomatic sources say that the main problem with EULEX's deployment without UN and Belgrade's explicit approval lies within the EU membership. "Diplomats admit that some countries that have not recognized Kosovo's independence have threatened not to take part in EULEX if that mission fails to be status-neutral," the Pristina daily claims. EU's foreign ministers are due to meet in Brussels on Monday, and are expected to "welcome preparations for the deployment of EULEX", and announced that its personnel will deploy in Kosovo in December 2008. "Later, a formulation could arrive from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that the mission will be under UN umbrella, which is neutral toward its status," the report further said. Nevertheless, the newspaper concluded that the "formulation" remains problematic, "not because of the status issue, but because the EU does not wish its mission to have any obligations toward the UN".

"EULEX deal has been made"

Yesterday, EU's representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith denied that an agreement was reached, while top Serbian officials maintain that they are not negotiating with the EU, but "only with the UN".

Koha Ditore also explains that EULEX is under EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana's jurisdiction, while the EC influences EULEX only is setting its budget, that must be approved by the European Parliament.

As for the deal, the EU sources confirm that "officially" it has not been reached.

"Diplomats are explaining that 'officially' nothing has been agreed upon, because, officially, negotiations are not taking place, so there can be no agreement. The EU is making efforts to reach a solution in its meetings with Belgrade and New York that will not be called 'agreement'. In other words, it will not be a document with which the EU would accept Belgrade's conditions, although in principle, it has accepted them," the daily reports.

The EU says, the article continues, that there will be no specific statement that the
Ahtisaari plan will not be implemented – this, in order to "console" Priština – while at the same time, no document will mention this plan's implementation – in order not to upset Belgrade.

However, the diplomatic sources say that the main problem with EULEX's deployment without UN and Belgrade's explicit approval lies within the EU membership.

"Diplomats admit that some countries that have not recognized Kosovo's independence have threatened not to take part in EULEX if that mission fails to be status-neutral," the Priština daily claims.

EU's foreign ministers are due to meet in Brussels on Monday, and are expected to "welcome preparations for the deployment of EULEX", and announced that its personnel will deploy in Kosovo in December 2008.

"Later, a formulation could arrive from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that the mission will be under UN umbrella, which is neutral toward its status," the report further said.

Nevertheless, the newspaper concluded that the "formulation" remains problematic, "not because of the status issue, but because the EU does not wish its mission to have any obligations toward the UN".