No Spanish EULEX participation until UNMIK transfer

Spanish FM Miguel Angel Moratinos says the UN must have key role in solving the Kosovo issue. "The government in Madrid will not give a green light for participation of Spanish personnel in the EU mission in Kosovo, until UNMIK transfers its jurisdiction to this mission," Moratinos told reporters during an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Slovenia today. No Spanish EULEX participation until UNMIK transfer "The joint action of sending EULEX to Kosovo will occur once UNMIK transfers its jurisdiction," the chief of Spanish diplomacy reiterated. He added that this transfer has not happened so far, and that Spain is adhering to international law and Article 5 of an EU document that regulates its mission's presence in the province, which states that EULEX will be sent after UNMIK formally transfers its authority. UNMIK's presence in Kosovo is regulated by valid UN Resolution 1244, which requires an invitation from the UN secretary-general in order for any new international presence to deploy in there. Serbia, and ally Russia, say that EULEX is at present, without this invitation, illegal. But, contrary to this, and the position voiced by Morantinos, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana's spokeswoman Christina Gallach said that EULEX will, "independently from UNMIK, continue to help the authorities in Pristina, which will soon take jurisdiction in all of Kosovo with the adoption of a new constitution". When reporters asked whether EULEX needs any UN decision as legal basis, Gallach said the document the EU adopted to set up the mission "is based on Resolution 1244". She also said that the deployment of EULEX is not linked to UNMIK's withdrawal from Kosovo. Gallach added that the 120-days transfer of jurisdiction had already started. Moratinos was asked in a news conference in Brdo pri Kranju whether he supported his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic's demand to return the Kosovo discussion to the United Nations. "I believe that everyone must agree, and that no one can be deaf to the necessity for the UN to have the main role in the Western Balkans, especially when it comes to solving the problem of Kosovo," the Spanish foreign minister said. He added that "there is agreement with Minister Jeremic", since "all decisions must be taken with utmost caution". Moratinos said that the summit paid particular attention to Kosovo, "taking into account each EU member state's position on Pristina's unilaterally declared independence". Spain is one of the EU countries that have rejected this declaration. According to the Spanish minister, Solana told the meeting about the difficulties that the EU mission was facing while deploying in Kosovo. "It is of key importance to guarantee stability and peace in the region, and this is why Spain is making it known that her soldiers and policemen will continue to be deployed with KFOR and UNMIK, because we have support and decision in UN Resolution 1244 for this, meaning, we will act on the basis of international law," Moratinos concluded.

No Spanish EULEX participation until UNMIK transfer

"The joint action of sending EULEX to Kosovo will occur once UNMIK transfers its jurisdiction," the chief of Spanish diplomacy reiterated.

He added that this transfer has not happened so far, and that Spain is adhering to international law and Article 5 of an EU document that regulates its mission's presence in the province, which states that EULEX will be sent after UNMIK formally transfers its authority.

UNMIK's presence in Kosovo is regulated by valid UN Resolution 1244, which requires an invitation from the UN secretary-general in order for any new international presence to deploy in there.

Serbia, and ally Russia, say that EULEX is at present, without this invitation, illegal.

But, contrary to this, and the position voiced by Morantinos, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana's spokeswoman Christina Gallach said that EULEX will, "independently from UNMIK, continue to help the authorities in Priština, which will soon take jurisdiction in all of Kosovo with the adoption of a new constitution".

When reporters asked whether EULEX needs any UN decision as legal basis, Gallach said the document the EU adopted to set up the mission "is based on Resolution 1244". She also said that the deployment of EULEX is not linked to UNMIK's withdrawal from Kosovo.

Gallach added that the 120-days transfer of jurisdiction had already started.

Moratinos was asked in a news conference in Brdo pri Kranju whether he supported his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremić's demand to return the Kosovo discussion to the United Nations.

"I believe that everyone must agree, and that no one can be deaf to the necessity for the UN to have the main role in the Western Balkans, especially when it comes to solving the problem of Kosovo," the Spanish foreign minister said.

He added that "there is agreement with Minister Jeremić", since "all decisions must be taken with utmost caution".

Moratinos said that the summit paid particular attention to Kosovo, "taking into account each EU member state's position on Priština's unilaterally declared independence".

Spain is one of the EU countries that have rejected this declaration.

According to the Spanish minister, Solana told the meeting about the difficulties that the EU mission was facing while deploying in Kosovo.

"It is of key importance to guarantee stability and peace in the region, and this is why Spain is making it known that her soldiers and policemen will continue to be deployed with KFOR and UNMIK, because we have support and decision in UN Resolution 1244 for this, meaning, we will act on the basis of international law," Moratinos concluded.