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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU launches Kosovo police mission | EU launches Kosovo police mission |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The European Union has launched its mission to strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo, after months of delay. | The European Union has launched its mission to strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo, after months of delay. |
| Some 2,000 officials are taking over police, justice and customs duties from the United Nations staff. | Some 2,000 officials are taking over police, justice and customs duties from the United Nations staff. |
| Serbia rejected Kosovo's declaration of independence in February and still regards Kosovo as one of its provinces, but it has accepted the new EU mission. | Serbia rejected Kosovo's declaration of independence in February and still regards Kosovo as one of its provinces, but it has accepted the new EU mission. |
| The UN will leave Kosovo after more than a decade in charge, retaining only a small political role. | The UN will leave Kosovo after more than a decade in charge, retaining only a small political role. |
| Eulex is the EU's biggest-ever mission and will operate across all of Kosovo. | |
| The EU will oversee the running of the police, the courts and the customs service. | The EU will oversee the running of the police, the courts and the customs service. |
| The aim is to help the authorities deal with corruption and organised crime, the BBC's Helen Fawkes in Pristina says. | The aim is to help the authorities deal with corruption and organised crime, the BBC's Helen Fawkes in Pristina says. |
| Plagued by delays | Plagued by delays |
| The mission is a huge test for the EU, says political analyst Lulzim Peci: | The mission is a huge test for the EU, says political analyst Lulzim Peci: |
| "If you succeed here, then you can prove to be capable to be engaged in other crises. But if you fail in Kosovo... then you lose credibility for overseas operations." | "If you succeed here, then you can prove to be capable to be engaged in other crises. But if you fail in Kosovo... then you lose credibility for overseas operations." |
| Already there have been problems, our correspondent says. | Already there have been problems, our correspondent says. |
| Eulex was supposed to have started months ago but it was plagued by delays and opposition from Serbia. | |
| Belgrade has now accepted the plan, however many Kosovo Serbs are still unhappy that the UN is leaving. | Belgrade has now accepted the plan, however many Kosovo Serbs are still unhappy that the UN is leaving. |
| There have also been protests by majority ethnic Albanians who believe that too many concessions have been made to Serbia. | There have also been protests by majority ethnic Albanians who believe that too many concessions have been made to Serbia. |