MUP-EULEX protocol signed

The EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, has signed a protocol on cooperation with the Serbian police (MUP). This was confirmed on Friday for B92 by EULEX press office chief Christoph Lamfalussy in Pristina. MUP-EULEX protocol signed EULEX says that MUP signed the protocol earlier, and that it would come into effect eight days from today. The agreement is seen as important in the context of allowing Serbia to fully meet all the EU requirements related to the visa regime Brussels imposed on the Serbian citizens. The visas are expected to be abolished on Jan. 1, 2010. The protocol is supposed to secure a much more stringent control of the administrative line between Kosovo and central Serbia, and in this way provide for "a palpably stronger fight against organized crime", reports said. Earlier in the day, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic stated that the protocol on police cooperation between EULEX and the Serbian Interior Ministry "is expected to be signed soon". The protocol concerns police cooperation and has no political connotations, he said. The protocol should define cooperation in fighting all forms of crime in Kosovo-Metohija, such as trafficking of persons, arms and narcotics, organized crime and all other illegal activities across borders or the administrative boundary, Dacic told the press after a ceremony at the MUP Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ) Batajnica base, that hosted an international seminar on the fight against terrorism. "There will be no official signing ceremony, EULEX and the Serbian Interior Ministry will simply state through diplomatic channels whether they accept what had been agreed earlier," the minister explained. "If there are no hindrances, the document might be signed soon," he said. "The Serbian Interior Ministry cooperates with EULEX on the basis of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's report and the six-point plan," Dacic was also quoted as saying. In Pristina, reports in the Albanian language press today said that the Kosovo Albanian leaders are "close to agreeing with the international officials" over the announced MUP-EULEX protocol. "It is a matter of hours, not days, before Pristina gives the green light to the signing of the EULEX-Serbia protocol," an unnamed European diplomat was quoted by daily Koha Ditore. The newspaper's sources said that the consultations between Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiju and Prime Minister Hasim Thaci and EU Special Representative Peter Feith – that is, reaching of an agreement that would see Kosovo Albanians withdraw their objections to the document – were "nearly over". "Kosovo's leaders are in daily contact with European diplomats, and we expect the talks about the protocol will be finalized by the end of the week and that the document will be accepted," the daily quoted its sources. The international community, added the article, will provide sufficient guarantees that the protocol "will not violate Kosovo's constitution", and states this was the reason for the Kosovo government opposition. However, over 20 NGOs in Pristina today announced that they would organize protests. Representatives from some of these organizations told journalists that the reason for the announced protests is that the protocol violates "Kosovo's sovereignty".

MUP-EULEX protocol signed

EULEX says that MUP signed the protocol earlier, and that it would come into effect eight days from today.

The agreement is seen as important in the context of allowing Serbia to fully meet all the EU requirements related to the visa regime Brussels imposed on the Serbian citizens.

The visas are expected to be abolished on Jan. 1, 2010.

The protocol is supposed to secure a much more stringent control of the administrative line between Kosovo and central Serbia, and in this way provide for "a palpably stronger fight against organized crime", reports said.

Earlier in the day, Interior Minister Ivica Dačić stated that the protocol on police cooperation between EULEX and the Serbian Interior Ministry "is expected to be signed soon".

The protocol concerns police cooperation and has no political connotations, he said.

The protocol should define cooperation in fighting all forms of crime in Kosovo-Metohija, such as trafficking of persons, arms and narcotics, organized crime and all other illegal activities across borders or the administrative boundary, Dačić told the press after a ceremony at the MUP Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ) Batajnica base, that hosted an international seminar on the fight against terrorism.

"There will be no official signing ceremony, EULEX and the Serbian Interior Ministry will simply state through diplomatic channels whether they accept what had been agreed earlier," the minister explained.

"If there are no hindrances, the document might be signed soon," he said.

"The Serbian Interior Ministry cooperates with EULEX on the basis of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's report and the six-point plan," Dačić was also quoted as saying.

In Priština, reports in the Albanian language press today said that the Kosovo Albanian leaders are "close to agreeing with the international officials" over the announced MUP-EULEX protocol.

"It is a matter of hours, not days, before Priština gives the green light to the signing of the EULEX-Serbia protocol," an unnamed European diplomat was quoted by daily Koha Ditore.

The newspaper's sources said that the consultations between Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiju and Prime Minister Hasim Thaci and EU Special Representative Peter Feith – that is, reaching of an agreement that would see Kosovo Albanians withdraw their objections to the document – were "nearly over".

"Kosovo's leaders are in daily contact with European diplomats, and we expect the talks about the protocol will be finalized by the end of the week and that the document will be accepted," the daily quoted its sources.

The international community, added the article, will provide sufficient guarantees that the protocol "will not violate Kosovo's constitution", and states this was the reason for the Kosovo government opposition.

However, over 20 NGOs in Priština today announced that they would organize protests.

Representatives from some of these organizations told journalists that the reason for the announced protests is that the protocol violates "Kosovo's sovereignty".