UN, EU, Serbia Deal on EULEX

10 November 2008 Pristina – Representatives of the EU and UN have reached an agreement with Serbia’s government on the deployment of the EU’s Rule of Law Mission, EULEX, to the country, the Kosovo daily Zeri reported on Monday.

An agreement has also been reached on cooperation between Belgrade and the UN’s mission to Kosovo, UNMIK, in six fields laid down by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in a letter sent to Serbian President Boris Tadic, the paper reported citying anonymous sources. These fields include customs, police, judiciary, border control, transport and cultural and religious heritage.

The newspaper reports that this agreement is very much ambiguous and could be interpreted differently by both parties to the agreement. According to Zeri’s source, the agreement may impede the implementation of Ahtisaari’s plan (for Kosovo’s independence) or even block it entirely.

One of the greatest problems is the concept of “neutrality toward Kosovo’s status”, said the source. Tadic has said that Serbia will only agree to EULEX’s deployment if the mission is status neutral: meaning it does not recognise Kosovo’s independence. “Serbia has insisted that EULEX be detatched from Ahtirsaari’s plan, so that it wouldn’t be connected to Kosovo’s status,” said the source.