EU mission in Kosovo should be status neutral

11/19/2008 9:53:04 PM   Source:Xinhuanet    Author:    [Font Size:Bigger Middle Smaller]
The European Union's Rule of Law mission in Kosovo (EULEX) should be status neutral, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said here on Wednesday.

After meeting Serbian President Boris Tadic, Parvanov said that as an EU member, Bulgaria believes that EULEX should be deployed and be status neutral, the official Serbian news agency Tanjug reported.

Parvanov said that Serbia's constructive approach to EULEX is positive.

The EULEX is designed to replace the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), but Kosovo Serbs and Belgrade are strongly opposing its deployment in Serb localities in Kosovo without a Resolution of the UN Security Council.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon offered a six-point plan to Kosovo authorities last week on the modalities of EULEX deployment.

The six-point plan arranges the aspects of customs, police, border controls, justice, transport and Serb religious heritage in Kosovo. It is based on Belgrade recommendations to UN over these issues, therefore Serbia accepts the plan and the deployment of EULEX if it is granted by a UN Security Council.

Kosovo, the breakaway province of Serbia and with an ethnic Albanian-majority, unilaterally declared independence on Feb. 17 following almost nine years of UN administration. It has since gained recognition by 52 countries, including the United States and most EU member states, but Serbia and its staunch ally Russia vehemently opposed.

The EULEX mission will consist of 2,000 police officers, judges and customs officers in charge of enforcing laws in Kosovo.

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