EULEX chief wants "better cooperation" with Belgrade

BELGRADE EULEX chief Bernd Borchardt says that he paid his first visit to Belgrade to ensure deepening of cooperation by meeting with Serbian officials. Borchardt, who became took over as head of the EU mission in Kosovo in February, met in Belgrade on Monday with Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and on Tuesday with President Tomislav Nikolic. EULEX chief wants "better cooperation" with Belgrade He said his talk with Dacic was constructive and left him with the impression that the prime minister is genuinely interested in cooperation with EULEX. Ahead of the meeting with Nikolic, Borchardt told Tanjug in an interview that he came to Belgrade to offer a hand in the hope of better cooperation and that he will say this to everyone. Borchardt expressed hope Belgrade and Pristina will reach an agreement in the next round of talks and added this would help Serbia's progress towards the EU. The new EULEX head said the teams at the administrative crossings are doing a good job on the whole, in accordance with the agreement on integrated crossings management, but some things need to dealt with on a daily basis. Borchardt recalled that increased patrols, along with checks of vehicles and suspicious individuals started in March, which stopped the bombs in the northern part of Mitrovica and has also significantly reduced the level of crime there. "We are going to continue this effort to the extent possible with our limited personnel," he said. Borchardt said EULEX's work so far had a more deterrent effect, but the mission now wants to work together with the Kosovo police and KFOR to get its hands on culprits. "For that we need the cooperation of the citizens. We are appealing to the citizens to give witness statements, to inform us about what they know about the culprits. We want to bring them to justice," he said. Borchardt said progress regarding freedom of movement is limited by the Serb roadblocks in northern Kosovo, and Kosovo customs officers are often stopped on their way to the crossings, which is not in line with the agreement. "This needs to change," he said, admitting that the situation with license plates and car insurance is complicated. Borchardt says efforts in the fight against organized crime intensified last year, expressing satisfaction with the increasing number of indictments and convictions. The Special Prosecutor's Office issued ten indictments in 2009, and 45 last year, which is significant progress, he said. In terms of verdicts, this year alone 12 people have been found guilty on charges of corruption, said Borchardt, noting this is a significant number, especially considering the cases involved high-level corruption. Out of 40,000 property cases, most of them in connection with property of Serbs, over 30,000 have already been closed, and work continues on the remaining cases, he said. The EULEX head says a lot has also been done in the search for missing persons, so that victims' families would get the remains. He also noted that EULEX is stepping up activities in the investigation into organ trafficking, but did not want to talk about details of what he called a very sensitive investigation. Borchardt said additional personnel has been hired for this inquiry, which at a time of budget cuts says a lot about the investigation's importance for EULEX. Asked what will happen to EULEX after June 2014 - when the agreement with the Pristina authorities on the mission's engagement in Kosovo expires, Borchardt said the discussion is just getting started. Not wanting to speculate about the outcome, the EULEX head said there is a view that some type of mission will be needed after this deadline, but that this must be agreed with Pristina, Brussels and all EU member countries. (Tanjug) Tanjug

EULEX chief wants "better cooperation" with Belgrade

He said his talk with Dačić was constructive and left him with the impression that the prime minister is genuinely interested in cooperation with EULEX.

Ahead of the meeting with Nikolić, Borchardt told Tanjug in an interview that he came to Belgrade to offer a hand in the hope of better cooperation and that he will say this to everyone.

Borchardt expressed hope Belgrade and Priština will reach an agreement in the next round of talks and added this would help Serbia's progress towards the EU.

The new EULEX head said the teams at the administrative crossings are doing a good job on the whole, in accordance with the agreement on integrated crossings management, but some things need to dealt with on a daily basis.

Borchardt recalled that increased patrols, along with checks of vehicles and suspicious individuals started in March, which stopped the bombs in the northern part of Mitrovica and has also significantly reduced the level of crime there.

"We are going to continue this effort to the extent possible with our limited personnel," he said.

Borchardt said EULEX's work so far had a more deterrent effect, but the mission now wants to work together with the Kosovo police and KFOR to get its hands on culprits.

"For that we need the cooperation of the citizens. We are appealing to the citizens to give witness statements, to inform us about what they know about the culprits. We want to bring them to justice," he said.

Borchardt said progress regarding freedom of movement is limited by the Serb roadblocks in northern Kosovo, and Kosovo customs officers are often stopped on their way to the crossings, which is not in line with the agreement.

"This needs to change," he said, admitting that the situation with license plates and car insurance is complicated.

Borchardt says efforts in the fight against organized crime intensified last year, expressing satisfaction with the increasing number of indictments and convictions.

The Special Prosecutor's Office issued ten indictments in 2009, and 45 last year, which is significant progress, he said.

In terms of verdicts, this year alone 12 people have been found guilty on charges of corruption, said Borchardt, noting this is a significant number, especially considering the cases involved high-level corruption.

Out of 40,000 property cases, most of them in connection with property of Serbs, over 30,000 have already been closed, and work continues on the remaining cases, he said.

The EULEX head says a lot has also been done in the search for missing persons, so that victims' families would get the remains.

He also noted that EULEX is stepping up activities in the investigation into organ trafficking, but did not want to talk about details of what he called a very sensitive investigation.

Borchardt said additional personnel has been hired for this inquiry, which at a time of budget cuts says a lot about the investigation's importance for EULEX.

Asked what will happen to EULEX after June 2014 - when the agreement with the Priština authorities on the mission's engagement in Kosovo expires, Borchardt said the discussion is just getting started.

Not wanting to speculate about the outcome, the EULEX head said there is a view that some type of mission will be needed after this deadline, but that this must be agreed with Priština, Brussels and all EU member countries.