Eulex Kosovo at mid-term, first assessment

(BRUSSELS2) The report submitted by the EULEX mission to the UN Secretary General (report established on 31 May) is interesting and deserves some attention. Kosovo, which was the center of all attention a year ago, is no longer on the media hit parade. In a way, it is the mark of a certain success. Even if the situation remains tense in certain villages, sometimes unstable, the independence of the former Serbian province took place, within a rather "reasonable" framework and relations have calmed down between the European Union and Belgrade (which aims EU membership). It is also in this context that the decision taken by NATO to reduce the forces of KFOR must be assessed.

Here are the main points of the report:

- Serbia/North Kosovo. On March 19, the Head of Mission and the heads of the main components held their first meeting with senior Serbian government officials in Belgrade. The presence in the north of Kosovo (with a Serb majority) is now effective both at the judicial and customs levels.

- Police. The Eulex police are now present in all regions and all posts, as observers, trainers and advisers to the Kosovar police. The Kosovo police restructuring plan is being closely monitored. But the reintegration of the Serbian policemen who had refused to work under the orders of the Albanians, takes time. About 45 police officers out of a total of 300 have already resumed their work. Eulex Police participated in policing the almost daily demonstrations in Brdjani/Kroi I Vitakut in April and May, in protest against the reconstruction of Kosovar Albanian houses. No serious injuries were reported (1).

- Justice. The transmission of files from Unmik to Eulex is now complete. Eulex judges received 120 files and Eulex prosecutors closed 300 cases. 16 verdicts were rendered in cases of crimes, including murder, organized crime and human trafficking. A first verdict for war crimes was rendered on March 3 (the defendants and accusers being Kosovar Albanians). Eulex has also started to deal with civil proceedings, in particular for questions of property disputes or inter-ethnic contracts. In northern Kosovo, a first trial was held in the district of Mitrovica in March (not without incident) and a second in May.

- Missing persons. Since December 9, Eulex has carried out 26 exhumations to find 21 human remains, sent for DNA analysis. After identification, 44 remains were returned to families.

- customs. Since February 1, Eulex customs services have been contributing to traffic control at the "Gate 1" and "Gate 31" border posts with a 24/24 presence. The system has been reinforced since May 7. Since the "Eulex" stamp now stamps goods passage documents. And that an identity card has been issued to drivers of heavy goods vehicles transporting goods in Kosovo. Copies of the documents are made at Kosovo Customs and at the Serbian Tax and Customs Administration.

(1) The chain of intervention remains unchanged:
1° the Kosovo police, with advisers and observers from Eulex;
2° the Eulex policy with executive mandate;
3° KFOR (NATO force).

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

Download the Eulex and Unmik report as of May 31, 2009 (download
Eulex/Minuk report)

Summary: On 19 March the Head of Mission and the Heads of Components had their first official meetings in Belgrade with senior members of the Serbian Government. On 31 May 2009, Mission staffing was more than 2,600 staff (1,713 international staff and 920 local staff).

Police : EULEX Police monitored, mentored and advised Kosovo Police (KP) in all regions and at all boundary points. EULEX Police have been closely monitoring the restructuring of Kosovo Police. EULEX supports the plan for the reintegration of the suspended Kosovo Serb police officers as set out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in mid-April. So far, a total of about 45 out of more than 300 officers have returned to work. EULEX Police Units had to intervene in April-May in violent protests by Kosovo Serbs against the reconstruction of Kosovo Albanian houses in Brdjani/Kroi I Vitakut in Mitrovicë/a. No-one was seriously injured and reconstructed, eventually, by members of both communities has continued peacefully.

Justice : By February the handover of cases from UNMIK to EULEX judges and prosecutors was mainly completed. EULEX Judges received 120 cases and EULEX prosecutors close to 300 cases. By late May, 16 verdicts had been passed in criminal cases concerning inter alia murder, organized crime, trafficking in human persons and war crimes. EULEX judges also started to handle civil law trials, dealing with intra-ethnic and inter-ethnic property disputes.

Missing Persons : son December 9 the EULEX Office for Missing Persons and Forensics has conducted 26 exhumations relating to 21 remains. These 21 remains were autopsied and bone samples sent for DNA analysis. As of the same date, the Office has confirmed identification and returned 44 remains to the families.

Customs: On 1 February, EULEX Customs started to collect data on commercial traffic at Gates 1 and 31 on a 24/7 basis. On 20 May EULEX Customs further strengthened customs control with new measures including the copying of commercial invoices accompanying goods entering Kosovo and ID cards of drivers of trucks transporting commercial goods to Kosovo. Copies are shared with Kosovo Customs and the Serbian Customs Administration and Tax Administration.

(NGV)