BRUSSELS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) civilian mission is to cover the whole territory of Kosovo, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said here Monday.
Solana made the remarks at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer after talks on Kosovo and Afghanistan.
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (L) and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana address a joint news conference at the end of a meeting in Brussels Feb. 25, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
"Our mission, as agreed by member states, covers the whole territory of Kosovo," Solana said, pledging that the EU mission, composed of more than 2,000 police officers, judges and prosecutors, would cooperate with NATO forces in Kosovo to maintain stability there and the whole Balkan region.
The EU withdrew staff, who had been preparing for the deployment of the EU mission, from the northern Kosovo city of Mitrovica after violent protests by the Serb minority against Kosovo's declaration of independence on Feb. 17.
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (L) and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana address a joint news conference at the end of a meeting in Brussels Feb. 25, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
In ethnic Albanian-dominated Kosovo, Mitrovica is inhabited by half of the region's 120,000 minority Serbs, who have been protesting against Kosovo's independence from Serbia and the deployment of the EU mission.
Both Serbia and Russia strongly oppose Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence and the EU presence there, charging that both moves violate international law and U.N. resolutions.
Scheffer expressed his support for the EU mission, saying the EU's presence in Kosovo was "important" and would play a "role to secure Kosovo."
He echoed EU leaders in saying that the mission was not against U.N. Security Resolution 1244 as Serbia and Russia had claimed.
The two added that their organizations would like to establish a close relationship with Serbia.
Scheffer said that Serbia was "important in the region."
MOSCOW, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russia will not use force in Kosovo though the situation in the region will continue to escalate following the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo authorities, Russia's permanent representative to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said on Sunday. Full story
PRISTINA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said Sunday the entire territory is in full control of NATO-led peacekeepers, the UN mission and local police one week after the declaration of independence. Full story
BELGRADE, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica Sunday called on the United States to annul its decision to recognize the independence of Kosovo. Full story
MOSCOW, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday the recognition of Kosovo's unilateral independence by several major world powers set "a terrible precedent." Full story
MOSCOW, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic on Friday condemned Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence and the recognition by some major world powers, Russian Foreign Ministry said. Full story
