Kosovo president, PM make contradictory remarks on EULEX-Serbia deal

While Thaci preferred to describe the protocol as an issue of the past, President Sejdiu gave the first signs that official Pristina could make a compromise.

Both leaders made their comments in separate presentations to the media, one in Pristina and the other one in Gnjilane. 

Initially, during a news conference at his headquarters, President Sejdiu said that EULEX is a mission for the benefit of Kosovo and all its citizens. He voiced the Kosovo institutions' readiness to cooperate with this mission, and this cooperation, according to Sejdiu, also implies joint, cautious actions. 

Asked whether there is room for compromise on the issue of the EULEX-Serbia protocol, President Sejdiu said that "there is always room to do a good job." 

"We have talked to EULEX and we are in the best possible process of cooperation. We have not accepted the approach contained in that document and we have presented our position before you, too," Sejdiu said. 

President Sejdiu also said that the cooperation will not be lacking on the part of the Kosovo institutions. "We will cooperate simply to ensure that we move forward, also on issues that concern inter-state communications. Kosovo needs to communicate with the neighbouring countries to prevent organized crime, like any other country, but only the Pristina institutions could sign agreements with other countries," President Sejdiu said.

Meanwhile, the Pristina daily Koha Ditore sources have confirmed the continuation of consultations on finding common ground between the Kosovo institutions and EULEX on EULEX's protocol with Serbia. 

EULEX Chief Yves de Kermabon met on Monday [24 August] with Prime Minister Thaci and Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuci, while a meeting between Kermabon and President Sejdiu is expected to be held this week. 

An international diplomat accredited in Pristina told Koha Ditore on the condition of anonymity that the EU mission is not interested in signing the document on behalf of Kosovo, but it has executive powers, which derive from the Ahtisaari Plan, to make such a protocol. 

"Even though EULEX could be neutral toward the Ahtisaari Plan, the Kosovo institutions cannot maintain the same position. The plan gives EULEX executive powers in three areas of the rule of law. In addition to being accepted without any opposition from the Kosovo Assembly, the plan was also the basis of the Kosovo Constitution and [its implementation] is supervised by the ICO [International Civilian Office]," this diplomat said. 

Although it has executive powers in the area of police, customs, and courts, this international diplomat said that parallels cannot be drawn between EULEX and UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo]. 

According to him, in addition to being general and undefined, UNMIK's powers derived from the international documents adopted for Kosovo. 

"EULEX's powers derive from the Kosovo Government, which handed them over to EULEX after the independence declaration, because this was envisioned under the Ahtisaari Plan," this senior international official said.