The head of the European Union law enforcement mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Xavier de Marnhac, said after talks with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci on Saturday that EULEX respects Kosovo's constitution and laws and supports the establishment of customs control in its entire territory, adding that attacks on EULEX and the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping force are unacceptable.
De Marnhac said that EULEX would not tolerate any restriction of free movement in Kosovo. Expressing concern about the situation on the border crossings of Jarinje and Brnjak, in the north of Kosovo, he called on Kosovo citizens to maintain order and peace.
Dialogue is the only way to achieve solutions and it is only through dialogue that two sides can settle outstanding issues, he said.
De Marnhac said he agreed this morning with the KFOR commander, General Erhard Buhler, that KFOR and EULEX should be working together to ensure freedom of movement, adding that resistance to that was illegal and would not be tolerated.
Kosovo PM Thaci told reporters after meeting de Marnhac that the operation of his government in northern Kosovo was in line with the country's constitution and laws and that it was not directed against anyone but aimed at achieving reciprocity in trade with Serbia.
He said that the north of Kosovo had been crime-ridden for 12 years and that it had been run by criminal and parallel structures.
Our friends in the international community knew that Kosovo institutions could not stay indifferent indefinitely to the fact that that part (of Kosovo territory) is a black hole, he said.
