"EULEX deployed throughout Kosovo"

The EULEX mission has deployed throughout Kosovo and is working with partners in the relevant fields of customs, rule of law and police, says Yves de Kermabon. EU Special Envoy Pieter Feith said that the West Balkan countries could only achieve their European perspective through cooperation and interaction. "EULEX deployed throughout Kosovo" At a meeting with Czech Ambassador to Kosovo Jana Hrebickova, they stressed that Kosovo had to have "good relations with its neighbors, Serbia included". EULEX Chief de Kermabon said that the mission would reach full capacity by the end of the winter, emphasizing that it was very important that EULEX should be deployed without any incidents. Speaking of the unrest in the north, he said that it was nothing new, adding that he expected Serb members of the Kosovo Police Service and KFOR to keep the situation under control. De Kermabon added that the incidents were frequently linked to illegal business. “What’s certain is that these incidents are a concern, and similar things are going on in the south of Kosovo. Certain people are manipulating them to heighten tensions and prove that there is no security in Mitrovica, which isn’t true,” the EULEX chief insisted. Meanwhile, Feith said that it would help the EU if "contact existed between Kosovo and its neighbors", while also playing down speculation of possible dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. Speaking of the situation in the province, he dismissed suggestions that Serbia was "undermining Kosovo’s sovereignty". “I think that assertion is very debatable, and I don’t see the situation in that way. What we’ve seen over the last few months in Kosovo is the successful deployment of EULEX throughout its territory,“ said the EU envoy. De Kermabon and Feith stressed that stability, reform and reconciliation were the main challenges that Kosovo faced in 2009. Yves de Kermabon (Tanjug, archive)

"EULEX deployed throughout Kosovo"

At a meeting with Czech Ambassador to Kosovo Jana Hrebickova, they stressed that Kosovo had to have "good relations with its neighbors, Serbia included".

EULEX Chief de Kermabon said that the mission would reach full capacity by the end of the winter, emphasizing that it was very important that EULEX should be deployed without any incidents.

Speaking of the unrest in the north, he said that it was nothing new, adding that he expected Serb members of the Kosovo Police Service and KFOR to keep the situation under control.

De Kermabon added that the incidents were frequently linked to illegal business.

“What’s certain is that these incidents are a concern, and similar things are going on in the south of Kosovo. Certain people are manipulating them to heighten tensions and prove that there is no security in Mitrovica, which isn’t true,” the EULEX chief insisted.

Meanwhile, Feith said that it would help the EU if "contact existed between Kosovo and its neighbors", while also playing down speculation of possible dialogue between Belgrade and Priština.

Speaking of the situation in the province, he dismissed suggestions that Serbia was "undermining Kosovo’s sovereignty".

“I think that assertion is very debatable, and I don’t see the situation in that way. What we’ve seen over the last few months in Kosovo is the successful deployment of EULEX throughout its territory,“ said the EU envoy.

De Kermabon and Feith stressed that stability, reform and reconciliation were the main challenges that Kosovo faced in 2009.