Last EU details on recognition

Mission launch imminent as Washington expresses preference for Kosovo’s supervised independence

BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON (Combined reports) – European Union nations prepared yesterday to launch a justice mission to smooth Kosovo’s transition to independence but struggled to agree on how to recognize the new state. At midnight tonight, the last political and legal obstacles to sending the 2,000-strong team to bolster the province’s police and justice system will be lifted, barring any major surprise.

Officials underscored that aircraft would not be taking off today with hundreds of personnel destined for Kosovo, and that the EU is determined to coordinate the deployment with the UN and the local authorities. “We’ve had an office there for this express purpose since April 2006,” one EU official said. A “planning team” of more than 100 people has also been in place in the capital Pristina for several weeks.

In the days after the ethnic Albanian leadership declares independence – probably tomorrow – the EULEX Kosovo mission will deploy in earnest and begin a 120-day countdown to taking over policing duties from the UN. The EU mission consists of a political entity to supervise the transfer of powers from United Nations Mission in Kosovo to the local authorities, and an operational entity to train and mentor police, justice and customs officials. The third track will see a European Commission component assist long-term reform efforts, economic development, regional integration and help the new nation down the long road to EU membership.

Serbia and its powerful ally Russia are vehemently opposed to independence. A much tougher task will come Monday when EU foreign ministers attempt to draw up a “common platform” in response to Kosovo’s move, but which does not include the notion of recognizing the new state, at a meeting in Brussels. “The situation is dreadfully complicated,” a French diplomatic source said. The USA said yesterday it wanted to see Kosovo finally settle its status. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said diplomacy was going on, but that Washington still favored supervised independence for Kosovo. “The diplomacy hasn’t stopped. We continue our diplomacy,” McCormack told reporters. He said Washington was aware of Serbia’s views. “It’s an emotional, sensitive issue, we understand that. But, as we have pointed out in the past, it is important to bring some final conclusion to the status of Kosovo,” McCormack said. The United States believes “some form of supervised independence... will lead to a more peaceful, a more stable region.” (AFP, Reuters)