Serbia-Eulex sign protocol, Serbian opposition slams it
The EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, has signed a protocol on cooperation with the Serbian police (MUP), an agreement seen as important in the context of allowing Serbia to fully meet all the EU requirements related to the visa regime Brussels imposed on the Serbian citizens.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Monday, September 14, 2009
The visas are expected to be abolished on Jan. 1, 2010.
The protocol is supposed to secure a much more stringent control of the administrative line between Kosovo and central Serbia, and in this way provide for "a palpably stronger fight against organized crime", reports said.
"The protocol should define cooperation in fighting all forms of crime in Kosovo, such as trafficking of persons, arms and narcotics, organized crime and all other illegal activities across borders or the administrative boundary", Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said.
Brussels and Washington hailed the agreement.
However, former Serbian Prime minister and opposition leader Vojislav Koštunica today accused the government of humiliating the country with the protocol.
"EULEX in its official documents recognizes Kosovo as a state that has its borders, and for that reason this signature of the current government has humiliated Serbia, turning its back to our people in Kosovo," said Kostunica, who heads the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS).
"The current government is using a policy of lies to mislead the citizens in the crudest manner, saying that the agreement with EULEX on setting up a border between Serbia and Kosovo is in our country's interest," stated Kostunica.
