- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

UN mission in Kosovo set to transfer power to EU, local govt.

Subscribe
The UN mission in Kosovo has drafted a plan to hand over power to a new European Union mission and the local government, the UN mission press secretary said on Wednesday.
BELGRADE, February 27 (RIA Novosti) - The UN mission in Kosovo has drafted a plan to hand over power to a new European Union mission and the local government, the UN mission press secretary said on Wednesday.

The EU has announced plans to deploy a 2,000-strong police, justice and civil administration mission in the Albanian-dominated region, which declared independence from Serbia on February 17, to replace the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

"Given from the European Union's statement that Brussels is prepared to take on some authority in Kosovo along with local government bodies, the UN mission has drafted a plan to hand over its responsibilities, but it has received no instructions to this end so far," Alexander Ivanko said.

Ivanko gave no details of the plan saying it was still being updated.

Serbia's radio KIM said earlier the plan, ordered by the EU and Kosovo, is designed to "gradually cut Serbian institutions' influence" in the region.

The radio station said the UN mission has been instructed to prepare public organizations for their transfer to a different jurisdiction, either the EU or Kosovo's, and consider a mechanism for servicing Kosovo's debts, which until recently were paid by Serbia.

Kosovo has been a UN protectorate since NATO bombings ended a conflict between Serb and Albanian forces in 1999.

Kosovo's independence has been recognized by the United States and major European countries, but Serbia and Russia have reacted angrily, with Serbia, which sees Kosovo as its historical heartland, recalling its ambassadors from those countries.

Moscow argues that Kosovo's independence will trigger more secessions and that it will block it from joining the United Nations.

Russia's ambassador to the UN called the EU mission, which is being deployed in Kosovo, "illegitimate" on Wednesday and insisted the UN mission continue its work in the region.

"At the UN Security Council, Russia will ensure the Kosovo problem remains within the legal framework and that the launch of the illegal EU mission does not hinder the UN mission's activities," Vitaly Churkin said during a Moscow-New York video link.

The recognition of Kosovo stirred mass protests in Serbia and Bosnia's Serb Republic.

The embassy of the United States, which led the 1999 campaign, and other diplomatic missions were targeted when largely peaceful protests turned violent.

A 17,000 NATO force is to remain in Kosovo alongside the EU mission, which is expected to be fully deployed by June.

The European mission will oversee policing and justice in Kosovo and implementation of the territory's independence plan as prepared by Finland's ex-president Martti Ahtisaari. The police mission will be headed by French General Yves de Kermabon and the International Civilian Office is to be run by Dutch diplomat Pieter Feith.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала