EULEX "far from absolute freedom of movement"

EULEX chief Xavier de Marnhac says that despite certain signs of improvement, there are still areas in Kosovo where freedom of movement is not absolute. In an interview he gave Tanjug at the national news agency, De Marnhac said that the EU mission's main short-term objective is that full and unconditional freedom of movement be established on the entire territory of Kosovo, which, as he put it, was also the topic of his meetings in Belgrade on Wednesday and Thursday. EULEX "far from absolute freedom of movement" “Freedom of movement should be permanent and unconditional. This is my position and I am not going to change it in any way. There are signs that things are improving," he said, and added that EULEX convoys have been able to reach the crossings, but that there are still areas where freedom of movement is not unconditional. We are far from permanent and unconditional freedom of movement, the EULEX chief said. Local Serbs, who form the majority in the north and reject the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Pristina last summer put up roadblocks to prevent transport of Pristina customs and police to administrative line checkpoints between Kosovo and central Serbia. When it comes to the integrated border management - an agreement discussed in Brussels by the dialogue teams of Belgrade and Pristina - De Marnhac said that EULEX is waiting for the results of the latest round of talks and that the mission is ready to implement the agreements. "We are present at the crossings at the time being, and we are ready to operate the gates. In this period of the year, where conditions are very difficult on the ground because of the snow and the cold, the best way to move is to go through the "normal" roads and gates. What we need to try to achieve is to return to a normal functioning of the gates, first of all for the sake of the people," he said. Reminding that one of EULEX main tasks is to establish the rule of law, De Marnhac said that freedom of movement is of key importance for investigations which are the mission's top priorities, among which the investigations on incidents on the barricades and alleged human organ trafficking. Pointing out that the progress of the investigation into organ trafficking, based on the findings of the Council of Europe Dick Marty, is an issue of great interest to him as head of the EU Mission, De Marnhac said that the a lot of energy and resources have been invested to create the special investigation task forces and that highly specialized and qualified people have been recruited for that matter. As he said, he personally is absolutely confident in the ability of the lead prosecutor, Clint Williamson, to conduct this investigation. When asked about the cooperation with colleagues in Belgrade regarding the issue, De Marnhac said that, in general, EULEX has had a good level of cooperation with prosecutors in Serbia, whether it is related to war crimes or organized crime. De Marnhac said that he expects more joint investigations into organized crime which crosses borders. Commenting on the malfunctioning of the court in northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica since March 2008, he said that he and his collocutors in Belgrade discussed this topic as well and that it remains to be seen what will happen in the next days and weeks. According to him, the overall security situation in Kosovo is peaceful and he hopes it will stay like that. When it comes to Serbs living south to the Ibar River, he expressed hope that development projects will improve their situation as well. Two days ago, EULEX asked Belgrade to investigate whether there is a mass grave in the quarry Rudnica near Raska, since the mission's annual report suspects that there are remains of 300 human bodies there. The EULEX chief said that the mission sent the request to Belgrade in order for the case to be finally resolved. (Tanjug) Tanjug

EULEX "far from absolute freedom of movement"

“Freedom of movement should be permanent and unconditional. This is my position and I am not going to change it in any way. There are signs that things are improving," he said, and added that EULEX convoys have been able to reach the crossings, but that there are still areas where freedom of movement is not unconditional.

We are far from permanent and unconditional freedom of movement, the EULEX chief said.

Local Serbs, who form the majority in the north and reject the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Priština last summer put up roadblocks to prevent transport of Priština customs and police to administrative line checkpoints between Kosovo and central Serbia.

When it comes to the integrated border management - an agreement discussed in Brussels by the dialogue teams of Belgrade and Priština - De Marnhac said that EULEX is waiting for the results of the latest round of talks and that the mission is ready to implement the agreements.

"We are present at the crossings at the time being, and we are ready to operate the gates. In this period of the year, where conditions are very difficult on the ground because of the snow and the cold, the best way to move is to go through the "normal" roads and gates. What we need to try to achieve is to return to a normal functioning of the gates, first of all for the sake of the people," he said.

Reminding that one of EULEX main tasks is to establish the rule of law, De Marnhac said that freedom of movement is of key importance for investigations which are the mission's top priorities, among which the investigations on incidents on the barricades and alleged human organ trafficking.

Pointing out that the progress of the investigation into organ trafficking, based on the findings of the Council of Europe Dick Marty, is an issue of great interest to him as head of the EU Mission, De Marnhac said that the a lot of energy and resources have been invested to create the special investigation task forces and that highly specialized and qualified people have been recruited for that matter.

As he said, he personally is absolutely confident in the ability of the lead prosecutor, Clint Williamson, to conduct this investigation.

When asked about the cooperation with colleagues in Belgrade regarding the issue, De Marnhac said that, in general, EULEX has had a good level of cooperation with prosecutors in Serbia, whether it is related to war crimes or organized crime.

De Marnhac said that he expects more joint investigations into organized crime which crosses borders.

Commenting on the malfunctioning of the court in northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica since March 2008, he said that he and his collocutors in Belgrade discussed this topic as well and that it remains to be seen what will happen in the next days and weeks.

According to him, the overall security situation in Kosovo is peaceful and he hopes it will stay like that.

When it comes to Serbs living south to the Ibar River, he expressed hope that development projects will improve their situation as well.

Two days ago, EULEX asked Belgrade to investigate whether there is a mass grave in the quarry Rudnica near Raska, since the mission's annual report suspects that there are remains of 300 human bodies there.

The EULEX chief said that the mission sent the request to Belgrade in order for the case to be finally resolved.