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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU to operate 'all over Kosovo' | EU to operate 'all over Kosovo' |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| The EU's police and justice mission will start deploying throughout Kosovo on 9 December, including to Serb-controlled areas, EU officials say. | The EU's police and justice mission will start deploying throughout Kosovo on 9 December, including to Serb-controlled areas, EU officials say. |
| Under the plan, approved by the UN Security Council, nearly 2,000 EU police, justice and customs officials will take over UN duties in Kosovo. | Under the plan, approved by the UN Security Council, nearly 2,000 EU police, justice and customs officials will take over UN duties in Kosovo. |
| But the UN mission - called Unmik - will retain a political role. | But the UN mission - called Unmik - will retain a political role. |
| The EU's "Eulex" mission was supposed to start earlier. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February. | The EU's "Eulex" mission was supposed to start earlier. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February. |
| Several thousand Kosovo Albanians demonstrated in the capital Pristina against the Eulex deployment on Tuesday - the day it was originally scheduled to start. | Several thousand Kosovo Albanians demonstrated in the capital Pristina against the Eulex deployment on Tuesday - the day it was originally scheduled to start. |
| Protesters held banners saying "Kosovo in the EU, not under the EU" and "Eulex made in Serbia". | Protesters held banners saying "Kosovo in the EU, not under the EU" and "Eulex made in Serbia". |
| The protest organiser and leader of the Self-determination Movement, Albin Kurti, voiced fears that the EU officials would "have immunity from the law - they will also be above the law". | The protest organiser and leader of the Self-determination Movement, Albin Kurti, voiced fears that the EU officials would "have immunity from the law - they will also be above the law". |
| Eulex police spokeswoman Karin Limdal said Eulex would operate "all over Kosovo - in the Serb-controlled areas too". | Eulex police spokeswoman Karin Limdal said Eulex would operate "all over Kosovo - in the Serb-controlled areas too". |
| Independence dispute | Independence dispute |
| About 1,300 Eulex police, judges, prosecutors, customs officers and prison officers will start deploying on 9 December, rising to about 1,900 in a few months' time, she told the BBC News website.Eulex says it is now "ready to go operational" in Kosovo | About 1,300 Eulex police, judges, prosecutors, customs officers and prison officers will start deploying on 9 December, rising to about 1,900 in a few months' time, she told the BBC News website.Eulex says it is now "ready to go operational" in Kosovo |
| Meanwhile, Serbia and Russia remain strongly opposed to Kosovo's independence declaration, refusing to recognise the territory. | Meanwhile, Serbia and Russia remain strongly opposed to Kosovo's independence declaration, refusing to recognise the territory. |
| So far 52 countries have recognised Kosovo, including the United States and many EU member states. More than 100 have not recognised it. | So far 52 countries have recognised Kosovo, including the United States and many EU member states. More than 100 have not recognised it. |
| Serbia had objected to Eulex having any role in Kosovo until the plan was altered to keep the UN in Serb-majority areas. | |
| But Eulex understands that Belgrade will not oppose an EU presence in Serb-majority areas, which are mostly in the north. Kosovo's population is 90% Albanian, with a minority of Serbs. | But Eulex understands that Belgrade will not oppose an EU presence in Serb-majority areas, which are mostly in the north. Kosovo's population is 90% Albanian, with a minority of Serbs. |
| An Unmik spokesman, Alexander Ivanko, confirmed on Tuesday that the UN mission would be downsized in the Serb-majority areas, as well as the rest of Kosovo. | An Unmik spokesman, Alexander Ivanko, confirmed on Tuesday that the UN mission would be downsized in the Serb-majority areas, as well as the rest of Kosovo. |
| "As soon as Eulex deploys throughout Kosovo we'll curtail our operations in the field of law and justice," Mr Ivanko told the BBC News website. | "As soon as Eulex deploys throughout Kosovo we'll curtail our operations in the field of law and justice," Mr Ivanko told the BBC News website. |
| The UN says Eulex will operate under a UN "umbrella" headed by the UN secretary-general's new special representative, Lamberto Zannier. | The UN says Eulex will operate under a UN "umbrella" headed by the UN secretary-general's new special representative, Lamberto Zannier. |
| Mr Ivanko said Unmik "will no longer administer Kosovo once Eulex deploys - we will only deal with political monitoring and reporting, as mandated". | Mr Ivanko said Unmik "will no longer administer Kosovo once Eulex deploys - we will only deal with political monitoring and reporting, as mandated". |
| Phased handover | Phased handover |
| The deployment plan, approved by the UN Security Council on 27 November after difficult negotiations, does not explicitly refer to the thorny issue of Kosovo independence. | The deployment plan, approved by the UN Security Council on 27 November after difficult negotiations, does not explicitly refer to the thorny issue of Kosovo independence. |
| Unmik has been in charge in Kosovo since 1999 - the year that a Nato bombing campaign triggered a withdrawal of Serb forces, who had been widely condemned for human rights abuses. | Unmik has been in charge in Kosovo since 1999 - the year that a Nato bombing campaign triggered a withdrawal of Serb forces, who had been widely condemned for human rights abuses. |
| Nearly 16,000 Nato-led K-For troops remain in Kosovo, maintaining security. | |
| Mr Ivanko said Unmik would keep a small legal office to "assist Kosovo in dealing with non-recognising countries" such as Serbia. | Mr Ivanko said Unmik would keep a small legal office to "assist Kosovo in dealing with non-recognising countries" such as Serbia. |
| Unmik will be ready to accompany Kosovo officials to international meetings where some participants refuse to recognise Kosovo, he said. | Unmik will be ready to accompany Kosovo officials to international meetings where some participants refuse to recognise Kosovo, he said. |
| Unmik will help Eulex in logistics and transport. "Unmik might have some civil affairs office in the Serb-controlled part, but no police," he told the BBC. | Unmik will help Eulex in logistics and transport. "Unmik might have some civil affairs office in the Serb-controlled part, but no police," he told the BBC. |
| Eulex police will go on patrol with Kosovo police, "to act as monitors, mentors and advisers," Ms Limdal of Eulex said. | Eulex police will go on patrol with Kosovo police, "to act as monitors, mentors and advisers," Ms Limdal of Eulex said. |
| "It's clear Kosovo institutions will be in the driving seat," she said, but explained that Eulex would take over Unmik investigations into organised crime and alleged war crimes. | "It's clear Kosovo institutions will be in the driving seat," she said, but explained that Eulex would take over Unmik investigations into organised crime and alleged war crimes. |
| Eulex will also work hard on curbing people trafficking and helping to track down some 2,000 people still missing from the 1999 conflict, she said. | Eulex will also work hard on curbing people trafficking and helping to track down some 2,000 people still missing from the 1999 conflict, she said. |