UN in bid to "calm passions within UNMIK"

The UN headquarters will interfere to heal the rifts within its mission in Kosovo, UNMIK. Tanjug reported this today from New York, citing an unnamed UN official, who also said the relations among UNMIK's top officials have deteriorated since March 17 riots in Kosovska Mitrovica that killed one Ukrainian policeman, seriously injured one Serb, and wounded up to 150 others on both sides. UN in bid to "calm passions within UNMIK" The UN leadership in New York is now facing a problem with a series of announced resignations, in the wake of a dispute between UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker, his deputy Larry Rossin, and the mission's regional administrator for Kosovska Mitrovica Gerard Galluci. After the unrest last month, sparked when UNMIK and KFOR troops stormed a local courthouse to arrest protesting Serb judicial workers there, Galluci filed a damning report leaked to the press, accusing UNMIK's Pristina HQ, submitted his resignation and left the province. But the UN Secretariat turned down the resignation, with the explanation that Galluci was a good link between UNMIK and Serb leaders from northern Kosovo. This caused protests among ethnic-Albanians living south of the Ibar River that divides Kosovska Mitrovica, where the mayor of that part of the town, Bajram Rexhepi, announced he will "boycott" Galluci's office, while a number of Albanian women gather daily to protest what they see as the U.S. diplomat's "pro-Serb bias". Rexhepi's position was essentially supported by Ruecker and Rossin when they sent a letter to the UN Secretariat recenlty, informing that "here was not enough room in Kosovo for the two of them and Galluci", as quoted by the Albanian-language press in the province. Beta today carried a report from Pristina which said that should the decision to retain Galluci remain in force, then the UNMIK chief and his deputy will immediately tender their resignations. Tanjug has also learned that the pair have asked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to reverse the previous decision and relieve Galluci of his duties. The agency quotes its East River sources today who said both Ruecker and Rossin received "serious raps on the fingers" from New York over what is described as "hasty transfer of jurisdiction to EU's future mission in Kosovo, EULEX". The legality of EULEX's presence in the province is disputed by Belgrade, but also by UN Security Council permanent member Russia, who say that any new international presence in Kosovo must be in line with UN Resolution 1244, which requires UN secretary-general's formal invitation. "The United Nations would continue to operate on the understanding that resolution 1244 remains in force and constitutes the legal framework for the mandate of UNMIK, and that UNMIK would continue to implement its mandate in the light of the evolving circumstances," Ban said in a report published recently. The UN's final decision, sources said, if it occurs at all, will have to wait for the findings of a probe conducted into the March 17 deadly violence in northern Kosovo. A scene from the protests against Galluci (Beta/AP)

UN in bid to "calm passions within UNMIK"

The UN leadership in New York is now facing a problem with a series of announced resignations, in the wake of a dispute between UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker, his deputy Larry Rossin, and the mission's regional administrator for Kosovska Mitrovica Gerard Galluci.

After the unrest last month, sparked when UNMIK and KFOR troops stormed a local courthouse to arrest protesting Serb judicial workers there, Galluci filed a damning report leaked to the press, accusing UNMIK's Priština HQ, submitted his resignation and left the province.

But the UN Secretariat turned down the resignation, with the explanation that Galluci was a good link between UNMIK and Serb leaders from northern Kosovo.

This caused protests among ethnic-Albanians living south of the Ibar River that divides Kosovska Mitrovica, where the mayor of that part of the town, Bajram Rexhepi, announced he will "boycott" Galluci's office, while a number of Albanian women gather daily to protest what they see as the U.S. diplomat's "pro-Serb bias".

Rexhepi's position was essentially supported by Ruecker and Rossin when they sent a letter to the UN Secretariat recenlty, informing that "here was not enough room in Kosovo for the two of them and Galluci", as quoted by the Albanian-language press in the province.

Beta today carried a report from Priština which said that should the decision to retain Galluci remain in force, then the UNMIK chief and his deputy will immediately tender their resignations.

Tanjug has also learned that the pair have asked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to reverse the previous decision and relieve Galluci of his duties.

The agency quotes its East River sources today who said both Ruecker and Rossin received "serious raps on the fingers" from New York over what is described as "hasty transfer of jurisdiction to EU's future mission in Kosovo, EULEX".

The legality of EULEX's presence in the province is disputed by Belgrade, but also by UN Security Council permanent member Russia, who say that any new international presence in Kosovo must be in line with UN Resolution 1244, which requires UN secretary-general's formal invitation.

"The United Nations would continue to operate on the understanding that resolution 1244 remains in force and constitutes the legal framework for the mandate of UNMIK, and that UNMIK would continue to implement its mandate in the light of the evolving circumstances," Ban said in a report published recently.

The UN's final decision, sources said, if it occurs at all, will have to wait for the findings of a probe conducted into the March 17 deadly violence in northern Kosovo.