Italian envoy, "EU moderator in north"

Italian Ambassador in Kosovo Michael Giffoni has been made representative of the EU in the north of Kosovo

(KosovoCompromise Staff) Thursday, February 11, 2010

Giffoni stated that his role will be to make a dialogue among the communities easier, says news agency Tanjug.

The Italian diplomat said that he would not play a role of a mediator between Pristina and Belgrade, but that he would help a dialogue on vital issues for the communities in the north of Kosovo, and that such a dialogue would include all relevant sides, including Belgrade.

Albanian language media in Pristina report Giffoni as saying that he intends to depoliticize issues through dialogue and resolve those issues that concern "everyday life of citizens".

Belgrade has accepted the opening of the EU House in the north of Kosovo but it does not accept the project of a strategy for the north, which has been drafted by the Kosovo government and International Civil Office of Pieter Feith, says Tanjug.

Under the proposal, the north of Kosovo would be integrated into the Kosovo Albanian system.