The EULEX Head of Mission, Yves de Kermabon, who has just returned to Kosovo, has requested a meeting with President Sejdiu and Prime Minister Thaci to take place on Thursday 20 August. Among the issues to be discussed will be that of the Police Protocol with the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Serbia.

Mr de Kermabon has released the following statement:

“There have been a number of misunderstandings and misinterpretations regarding the issue of the Police Protocol between EULEX, the EU Rule of Law Mission, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Serbia. I will clarify some of these issues during my meetings. I would also like to point out the following:

- EULEX has not and cannot sign any kind of protocol on behalf of Kosovo. EULEX, as a technical rule of law mission, can only sign protocols on behalf of EULEX and on issues related to the rule of law, as agreed by the EU 27.

- Following my first visit to Belgrade in March, having already visited other regional capitals, EULEX, through me, my deputy Roy Reeve and our staff have kept the Kosovo authorities constantly informed about the contacts with Belgrade and the details regarding the formalization of police cooperation.

- All information obtained through such agreements will be shared with the relevant Kosovo authorities to the benefit of the rule of law institutions.

- It is not unusual for EULEX to sign agreements with relevant ministries in the region. Similar agreements have already been signed by EULEX on cooperation in the exchange of financial intelligence related to money laundering and the financing of terrorism, with FYROM on 22 January 2009, with Montenegro on 19 February 2009 and with Albania on 4 February 2009. EULEX will continue to seek operational cooperation on all issues related to the mandate of EULEX.

- Organized crime, smuggling and trafficking in human beings, drugs and weapons are all serious crimes that can only be resolved through regional cooperation. In order to bring criminals to justice evidence needs to be shared and exchanged through the region and mechanisms need to be established to facilitate this.”