EULEX: Belgrade cooperation key to success

Cooperation from Belgrade is necessary in order for the EULEX mission in Kosovo to succeed, EULEX Chief Yves de Kermabon told B92. Kermabon, who was in Belgrade yesterday for the first time since the EULEX mission’s deployment in Kosovo, met with Ministers Ivica Dacic, Diana Dragutinovic, Snezana Malovic and Goran Bogdanovic. EULEX: Belgrade cooperation key to success He confirmed that many of the issues within his mission’s remit have yet to be resolved. The fate of Serb police and customs employees remains uncertain, while it is still unclear which laws judges in northern Kosovo will work to—an issue that has been the subject of recent protests. Kermabon said that EULEX was seeking “a pragmatic solution” to the issue, and was ready to consider all proposals, including those he heard from Belgrade to implement Serbian law in northern Kosovo. “We have experts who need to find a pragmatic solution. We have some technical problems as well, that is for sure. Currently we are implementing the existing legislation, but we are trying to find solutions for the future,” the EULEX chief said. Asked whether he was open to all suggestions, he said that he was open to all possibilities that the courts would accept in order to build an independent judiciary that would work in the best interests of the people. Kermabon said that he did not know that police had assaulted Serb protestors, including women, in Silovo recently, but that he would be looking into the matter. He said that the case of Florim Ejupi, who was acquitted of blowing up a Serbian bus killing 12 people in the process, was not over yet. “The case is not over. The trial chamber at that instance freed him based on the evidence it had, put the prosecution continues it job and can file an appeal. Rest assured that we will not abandon this case, nor any other. But, everyone must understand that we need time,” said the EULEX chief. Kermabon said that the mission was not involved in the issue of Kosovo’ status and denied claims of local media in Kosovo that he reports on his work to the provincial president. Yves de Kermabon (FoNet, archive)

EULEX: Belgrade cooperation key to success

He confirmed that many of the issues within his mission’s remit have yet to be resolved.

The fate of Serb police and customs employees remains uncertain, while it is still unclear which laws judges in northern Kosovo will work to—an issue that has been the subject of recent protests.

Kermabon said that EULEX was seeking “a pragmatic solution” to the issue, and was ready to consider all proposals, including those he heard from Belgrade to implement Serbian law in northern Kosovo.

“We have experts who need to find a pragmatic solution. We have some technical problems as well, that is for sure. Currently we are implementing the existing legislation, but we are trying to find solutions for the future,” the EULEX chief said.

Asked whether he was open to all suggestions, he said that he was open to all possibilities that the courts would accept in order to build an independent judiciary that would work in the best interests of the people.

Kermabon said that he did not know that police had assaulted Serb protestors, including women, in Šilovo recently, but that he would be looking into the matter.

He said that the case of Florim Ejupi, who was acquitted of blowing up a Serbian bus killing 12 people in the process, was not over yet.

“The case is not over. The trial chamber at that instance freed him based on the evidence it had, put the prosecution continues it job and can file an appeal. Rest assured that we will not abandon this case, nor any other. But, everyone must understand that we need time,” said the EULEX chief.

Kermabon said that the mission was not involved in the issue of Kosovo’ status and denied claims of local media in Kosovo that he reports on his work to the provincial president.