EULEX "respects laws and constitution of Kosovo"

EULEX chief Xavier Bout de Marnhac said on Saturday that the mission "respects the constitution and laws of Kosovo". Furthermore, it "supports establishment of customs control on the entire territory of Kosovo". EULEX "respects laws and constitution of Kosovo" Marnhac added that "any restriction of freedom of movement will not be tolerated in Kosovo". He expressed concern about the situation at Jarinje and Brnjak and called on citizens in Kosovo to "maintain law and order". "We believe that talks are the only way toward a solution. The two sides must solve open issues through dialogue," said he. Marnhac - who today met with Kosovo Albanian PM Hashim Thaci - said he also spoke with KFOR commander Erhard Buehler, and that they agreed that KFOR and EULEX will "work together to secure freedom of movement", while resistance to that, according to the Frenchman, was illegal, and "would not be tolerated". EULEX is the mission sent to Kosovo by the European Union. "Under no circumstances, at no cost" Kosovo Albanian Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said the operation of his government in northern Kosovo was "not aimed against anyone", but was meant to"enforce the decision on reciprocity in trade relations with Serbia". He was addressing a news conference in Pristina following a meeting with EULEX Head Xavier De Marnhac. The ambassadors of the Quint - five western countries that recognized the Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration of independence - met with the Kosovo PM late on Friday. According to Belgrade-based daily Blic said it obtained, they "condemned the move of the Pristina government and warned Thaci he must act in consultations with EU, EULEX and KFOR". The newspaper said this information was unofficial, and did not name its sources. Alluding to the "lack of cooperation with EULEX on Monday, July 25" - when the Kosovo police tried to take control of the Jarinje and Brnjak in the Serb north, sparking the current crisis - Thaci today said this "probably happened due to the EULEX head's absence from Kosovo". He noted the cooperation between the Kosovo institutions and EULEX continues, despite the fact they did not cooperate on the police operations in northern Kosovo. Thaci also said that "everything is different in Kosovo since July 25 and the status quo has been changed". "Under no circumstances and at no cost will we go back to the way things were before," Thaci said, pointing out Kosovo was "ready for a dialogue with Belgrade".

EULEX "respects laws and constitution of Kosovo"

Marnhac added that "any restriction of freedom of movement will not be tolerated in Kosovo".

He expressed concern about the situation at Jarinje and Brnjak and called on citizens in Kosovo to "maintain law and order".

"We believe that talks are the only way toward a solution. The two sides must solve open issues through dialogue," said he.

Marnhac - who today met with Kosovo Albanian PM Hashim Thaci - said he also spoke with KFOR commander Erhard Buehler, and that they agreed that KFOR and EULEX will "work together to secure freedom of movement", while resistance to that, according to the Frenchman, was illegal, and "would not be tolerated".

EULEX is the mission sent to Kosovo by the European Union.

"Under no circumstances, at no cost"

Kosovo Albanian Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said the operation of his government in northern Kosovo was "not aimed against anyone", but was meant to"enforce the decision on reciprocity in trade relations with Serbia".

He was addressing a news conference in Priština following a meeting with EULEX Head Xavier De Marnhac.

The ambassadors of the Quint - five western countries that recognized the Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration of independence - met with the Kosovo PM late on Friday.

According to Belgrade-based daily Blic said it obtained, they "condemned the move of the Priština government and warned Thaci he must act in consultations with EU, EULEX and KFOR".

The newspaper said this information was unofficial, and did not name its sources.

Alluding to the "lack of cooperation with EULEX on Monday, July 25" - when the Kosovo police tried to take control of the Jarinje and Brnjak in the Serb north, sparking the current crisis - Thaci today said this "probably happened due to the EULEX head's absence from Kosovo".

He noted the cooperation between the Kosovo institutions and EULEX continues, despite the fact they did not cooperate on the police operations in northern Kosovo.

Thaci also said that "everything is different in Kosovo since July 25 and the status quo has been changed".

"Under no circumstances and at no cost will we go back to the way things were before," Thaci said, pointing out Kosovo was "ready for a dialogue with Belgrade".