By Pierre Glachant - Agence France-Presse

PRISTINA – The European Union police and justice mission in Kosovo (EULEX) could become fully operational in early December, hopefully after overcoming objections from the local Serb minority to its deployment, according to its chief Yves de Kermabon.

In an interview with Agence France-Presse, de Kermabon – who used to command NATO-led peacekeeping troops in Kosovo (KFOR) – estimated that an accord with Serbia on EULEX’s deployment in Kosovo was “not far away,” but said he has remained nevertheless “prudent.”

Ethnic Serbs living in northern Kosovo, where they make up a majority, fiercely oppose EULEX’s deployment, considering it would indirectly mean the recognition of Kosovo’s independence.

“I think it will be possible to really kick off the mission in early December, in its first, initial phase, having in mind that we will again need a little more time, undoubtedly, to gather all personnel in order to be fully deployed throughout Kosovo,” de Kermabon said.

In February, the EU decided to deploy EULEX in Kosovo to replace the United Nations mission (UNMIK) that has administered the territory since the end of 1998-1999 war there.

But Belgrade, as well as Kosovo Serbs, consider EULEX illegal without the approval of the UN Security Council for its deployment.

The mission should comprise some 2,000 police, justice and customs officials in charge of “improving the rule of law and rights” in Kosovo, de Kermabon said. They will be assisted by about 1,000 local staff.

“EULEX will not be deployed by force,” the French official said. He indicated a possibility of a joint EULEX and UNMIK deployment in Serb-populated northern Kosovo, in order to provide an easier transition.