“EULEX must guarantee neutrality”

BELGRADE Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar Vulin says Serbia insists on EULEX’s executive role in the management of the administrative line. He added that EULEX was a guarantor of status neutrality. “EULEX must guarantee neutrality” “We insist on EULEX’s executive role and that means that every communication and all taxation of goods will go through representatives of the international community and not Pristina,” Vulin told Radio Television of Serbia (RTS). “They (Pristina) can witness what is being done here but they cannot put their stamps that say ‘Republic of Kosovo’,” he stressed. Vulin said that Belgrade considered EULEX a guarantor that the management of the administrative line would be status neutral. “We want things to be put within a legal framework, that transport of goods and people is controlled as much as possible, but we will not allow Pristina’s legislation to be implemented through this,” Vulin underscored. He said that two pilot projects had been agreed at a meeting between Serbian PM Ivica Dacic, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci. According to him, the pilot projects include the integrated management of the administrative line and there will be no customs officers there but only tax administration officials. He said he expected Kosovo Serbs to continue to present their legitimate positions and objections to the crossings agreement and that the government would take their opinion into account. Commenting on liaison officers, Vulin said that they should not be considered diplomatic representatives and that they would be in charge of operational and technical cooperation without any prejudging. He added that their offices would probably be in Brussels. When asked whether the fact that the Kosovo police would protect the Serbian churches and monasteries in Kosovo represented a step back, Vulin said that KFOR was leaving the Serbian cultural heritage and that a way to protect it needed to be found. “It will be an appropriate unit that will deal exclusively with our heritage, so we are raising the level of responsibility for what may happen this way,” the Office for Kosovo director pointed out. He said that Serbia would not stop financing the Serbian institutions in Kosovo and that the so-called Kosovo bonus would continue to be paid to Kosovo Serbs. Aleksandar Vulin (Beta, file) RTS Tanjug

“EULEX must guarantee neutrality”

“We insist on EULEX’s executive role and that means that every communication and all taxation of goods will go through representatives of the international community and not Priština,” Vulin told Radio Television of Serbia (RTS).

“They (Priština) can witness what is being done here but they cannot put their stamps that say ‘Republic of Kosovo’,” he stressed.

Vulin said that Belgrade considered EULEX a guarantor that the management of the administrative line would be status neutral.

“We want things to be put within a legal framework, that transport of goods and people is controlled as much as possible, but we will not allow Priština’s legislation to be implemented through this,” Vulin underscored.

He said that two pilot projects had been agreed at a meeting between Serbian PM Ivica Dačić, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci.

According to him, the pilot projects include the integrated management of the administrative line and there will be no customs officers there but only tax administration officials.

He said he expected Kosovo Serbs to continue to present their legitimate positions and objections to the crossings agreement and that the government would take their opinion into account.

Commenting on liaison officers, Vulin said that they should not be considered diplomatic representatives and that they would be in charge of operational and technical cooperation without any prejudging. He added that their offices would probably be in Brussels.

When asked whether the fact that the Kosovo police would protect the Serbian churches and monasteries in Kosovo represented a step back, Vulin said that KFOR was leaving the Serbian cultural heritage and that a way to protect it needed to be found.

“It will be an appropriate unit that will deal exclusively with our heritage, so we are raising the level of responsibility for what may happen this way,” the Office for Kosovo director pointed out.

He said that Serbia would not stop financing the Serbian institutions in Kosovo and that the so-called Kosovo bonus would continue to be paid to Kosovo Serbs.