EULEX legality no problem—French FM

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says the legality of the EU mission in Kosovo is "not in question".

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Saturday, 08.03.2008.

13:10

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French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says the legality of the EU mission in Kosovo is "not in question". At the same time, he said France's decision to recognize Kosovo independence is "not directed against the Serb people". EULEX legality no problem—French FM "According to analyses made by France and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a gradual transition is expected from UNMIK to EULEX," Kouchner told a press conference, claiming that this is envisaged by the UN Security Council Resolution 1244. "EULEX is already in Kosovo and officials from 27 EU countries are arriving to take over administration responsibilities in keeping with Resolution 1244," Kouchner said answering a question by Tanjug's reporter. "This process will last until June and UNMIK and EULEX will work in parallel and, hopefully, efficiently in the meantime," he said. Kouchner, who headed UNMIK for two years, said that "Kosovo independence is not a defeat for the Serb people, but rather a starting point and a hope". "France had no choice but to recognize Kosovo independence," he explained. "A country which has a UN protectorate in its territory cannot join the EU," he added. Russia has warned on several occasions that any transfer of jurisdiction from UNMIK to EULEX would be violating UN Resolution 1244. Both Moscow and Belgrade consider the mission's presence in the province illegal. At the end of last month, a spokesman for Ban said that the UN secretary-general has not sent an invitation to the EU to send its mission there, a necessary condition for it to be deployed in accordance with 1244.

EULEX legality no problem—French FM

"According to analyses made by France and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a gradual transition is expected from UNMIK to EULEX," Kouchner told a press conference, claiming that this is envisaged by the UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

"EULEX is already in Kosovo and officials from 27 EU countries are arriving to take over administration responsibilities in keeping with Resolution 1244," Kouchner said answering a question by Tanjug's reporter.

"This process will last until June and UNMIK and EULEX will work in parallel and, hopefully, efficiently in the meantime," he said.

Kouchner, who headed UNMIK for two years, said that "Kosovo independence is not a defeat for the Serb people, but rather a starting point and a hope".

"France had no choice but to recognize Kosovo independence," he explained.

"A country which has a UN protectorate in its territory cannot join the EU," he added.

Russia has warned on several occasions that any transfer of jurisdiction from UNMIK to EULEX would be violating UN Resolution 1244. Both Moscow and Belgrade consider the mission's presence in the province illegal.

At the end of last month, a spokesman for Ban said that the UN secretary-general has not sent an invitation to the EU to send its mission there, a necessary condition for it to be deployed in accordance with 1244.

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