“EULEX is status neutral,” Kermabon stresses

EULEX chief Yves de Kermabon says that his mission is not in Kosovo to make laws or reach political decisions. He said that the mission would deal with technical issues concerning the rule of law, provided it was part of the UN six-point plan. “It is not in my jurisdiction to discuss politics. We can give our advice when the talks reach points which concern the EULEX mandate,” Kermabon said today in an interview with daily Vecernje Novosti. “EULEX is status neutral,” Kermabon stresses Kermabon said that EULEX would not be involved in the issue of Kosovo’s status, and that the mission had not changed its position on that. “This is the result of very complex EU negotiations with Russia and Serbia. It is for the individual EU members, and not for the EU as a whole, to decide on (Kosovo) recognition,” he said. The EULEX chief underlined that it was quite clear that EULEX was operating on the basis of a joint decision that EU member-states reached on Feb. 4, 2008, adding that “the first point of that decision illustrates the fact that EULEX is operating under (UN Security Council) Resolution 1244.” Kermabon said he was convinced that EULEX would be fully operational in the field by the end of next month, saying that the police were functioning well. “From February 1, the customs service reestablished control over crossings 1 and 31. We aren’t collecting duty at these crossings, nor are we controlling private vehicles. We just take down information that we exchange with the Serbian customs authorities. In the area of justice we’re moving more slowly, and the reason for that is lack of infrastructure in Kosovska Mitrovica. With more than 2,500 people on the ground we’re near to reaching full operational capacity,” said Kermabon. He said that “the Serbs need to understand that EULEX has been deployed in Kosovo in the interests of all people and communities.” “It’s very clear that there is a need to restore the rule of law to Kosovo. It’s in everyone’s interests to have access to courts, to be protected from organized crime, to live in secure neighborhoods, and that’s why we’re here,” he said. According to him, EULEX is in Kosovo to help the local authorities, and not to decide what needs to be done. “As far as incidents in the north are concerned, cooperation between EULEX and KFOR has been very good,” said Kermabon, adding that the situation had not worsened since EULEX’s deployment on Dec. 9. “Things are improving every day and I am prepared to go to Belgrade to discuss Belgrade’s concerns, but not political issues. We want to achieve regional cooperation with all the countries in the region. We cannot tackle organized crime only at the local level. All actors in the region need to be included. That is in the interests of Serbia, Kosovo and the EU,” he said. Yves de Kermabon (FoNet, archive)

“EULEX is status neutral,” Kermabon stresses

Kermabon said that EULEX would not be involved in the issue of Kosovo’s status, and that the mission had not changed its position on that.

“This is the result of very complex EU negotiations with Russia and Serbia. It is for the individual EU members, and not for the EU as a whole, to decide on (Kosovo) recognition,” he said.

The EULEX chief underlined that it was quite clear that EULEX was operating on the basis of a joint decision that EU member-states reached on Feb. 4, 2008, adding that “the first point of that decision illustrates the fact that EULEX is operating under (UN Security Council) Resolution 1244.”

Kermabon said he was convinced that EULEX would be fully operational in the field by the end of next month, saying that the police were functioning well.

“From February 1, the customs service reestablished control over crossings 1 and 31. We aren’t collecting duty at these crossings, nor are we controlling private vehicles. We just take down information that we exchange with the Serbian customs authorities. In the area of justice we’re moving more slowly, and the reason for that is lack of infrastructure in Kosovska Mitrovica. With more than 2,500 people on the ground we’re near to reaching full operational capacity,” said Kermabon.

He said that “the Serbs need to understand that EULEX has been deployed in Kosovo in the interests of all people and communities.”

“It’s very clear that there is a need to restore the rule of law to Kosovo. It’s in everyone’s interests to have access to courts, to be protected from organized crime, to live in secure neighborhoods, and that’s why we’re here,” he said.

According to him, EULEX is in Kosovo to help the local authorities, and not to decide what needs to be done.

“As far as incidents in the north are concerned, cooperation between EULEX and KFOR has been very good,” said Kermabon, adding that the situation had not worsened since EULEX’s deployment on Dec. 9.

“Things are improving every day and I am prepared to go to Belgrade to discuss Belgrade’s concerns, but not political issues. We want to achieve regional cooperation with all the countries in the region. We cannot tackle organized crime only at the local level. All actors in the region need to be included. That is in the interests of Serbia, Kosovo and the EU,” he said.