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EU mission in Kosovo defends Belgrade ties

27 September 2009, 13:22 CET
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(PRISTINA) - The EU justice mission in Kosovo, EULEX, considers a "minimum of coordination" with Belgrade is necessary in order to deal with cross-border crime that impacts on all the European Union.

In an interview, EULEX chief of mission Yves de Kermabon said smuggling in people, drugs, weapons, petrol and tobacco has intensified between the Serb-majority north of Kosovo and Serbia proper.

Earlier this month around 1,000 Kosovo Albanians demonstrated in Pristina against a crime-fighting accord between EULEX and Serbia, alleging that it infringes on the sovereignty of the fledgling state.

Some EULEX vehicles have been targeted with firebombs as well, in the worst rift to emerge between the mission and Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008.

De Kermabon said EULEX had only signed "a small technical agreement" with Belgrade on September 11 in order to tackle crime in northern Kosovo, where Serbs reject Pristina's authority and prefer to be under Serbia's umbrella.

"If we want to make any headway in the north of Kosovo, it has to be done with a minimum of coordination with the Serb authorities," said the retired French army general who in 2004-2005 commanded NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo.

He acknowledged "a misunderstanding" in Pristina over the technical agreement with Belgrade, and promised "full transparency" with regards to a pair of upcoming follow-up agreements.

Those will deal with an exchange of information between EULEX on the one hand, and Serbian customs and judicial system on the other.

Such technical links are essential, de Kermabon said, "in order to be effective in northern Kosovo in a fight against the organized crime, to restore the customs services and let justice work."

At stake is cross-border criminality that extends into EU member states such as Germany and Italy, as well as the south of France where "an "extremely dangerous development of Albanian and Kosovar mafias" has been seen.

"Multiethnic organisations" have been doing well by exploiting Kosovo as a hub for their activities, the 60-year-old chief of mission said.

With a staff of 2,000, the EULEX mission is tasked by the European Union -- most of whose 27 member states recognise Kosovo's independence -- with helping Kosovo to develop the rule of law.

Serbia, as well as Russia, its strongest ally on the international stage, does not accept the independence of what had been its southern province and remains a cradle of Serbian Orthodox religion and culture.

Kosovo authorities "are very aware of the fact that they need us for a certain time, to help them," de Kermabon said.

He warned that "there would undoubtely be a much stronger EU reaction" if ethnic Albanian attacks on EULEX flare up again.

"Many people would have wanted miracles by now," de Kermabon said. "People have to understand that justice moves slowly. It cannot work on the basis of rumours -- there has to be evidence."

"Time needs to be taken to explain things -- and thanks to such a policy of little steps, we will arrive at concrete results."


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