“Status quo extended for six months”

Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic on Thursday reacted to the EU decision to extend the mandate of Pieter Feith for another six months. Feith is EU's special representative in Kosovo. Separately, he heads the International Civilian Office (ICO) in the province. “Status quo extended for six months” Ivanovic said that he “could not understand the decision of the European Union to extend the term of office of its special representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith”. “No solution can be found with a man who has placed himself at the service of Kosovo's independence,” Ivanovic told Tanjug. “Feith is not acceptable to Kosovo Serbs. He communicates only with Albanians and only sends messages to Serbs, messages which are causing concern among the Serb community,” Ivanovic continued. “This status quo has now been extended by another six months,” he said. According to Ivanovic, the EU should consider appointing a new representative for Kosovo as well as changing its mission. Ivanovic believes that the EU should “understand the complexity of the situation, close the International Civilian Office, give up on Feith and form a new mission which would be entrusted equally to the UN and the EU in keeping with the Resolution 1244”. “A particular problem is the fact that Feith exercises two opposing functions - that of head of the International Civilian Office, which is working on the basis of Martti Ahtisaari's plan, and that of special representative of the EU high commissioner for foreign policy and security, which should make him neutral as regards Kosovo's independence,” Ivanovic was quoted as saying.

“Status quo extended for six months”

Ivanović said that he “could not understand the decision of the European Union to extend the term of office of its special representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith”.

“No solution can be found with a man who has placed himself at the service of Kosovo's independence,” Ivanović told Tanjug.

“Feith is not acceptable to Kosovo Serbs. He communicates only with Albanians and only sends messages to Serbs, messages which are causing concern among the Serb community,” Ivanović continued.

“This status quo has now been extended by another six months,” he said.

According to Ivanović, the EU should consider appointing a new representative for Kosovo as well as changing its mission.

Ivanović believes that the EU should “understand the complexity of the situation, close the International Civilian Office, give up on Feith and form a new mission which would be entrusted equally to the UN and the EU in keeping with the Resolution 1244”.

“A particular problem is the fact that Feith exercises two opposing functions - that of head of the International Civilian Office, which is working on the basis of Martti Ahtisaari's plan, and that of special representative of the EU high commissioner for foreign policy and security, which should make him neutral as regards Kosovo's independence,” Ivanović was quoted as saying.