Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRUSSELS1088
2008-07-16 16:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USEU Brussels
Cable title:
EULEX KOSOVO COMMITTEE OF CONTRIBUTORS DISCUSSES
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 001088
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/ERA, INL/CIV
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EUN UNMIK KV
SUBJECT: EULEX KOSOVO COMMITTEE OF CONTRIBUTORS DISCUSSES
RECONFIGURATION AND DEPLOYMENT
REF: USEU BRUSSELS 808
This message is Sensitive But Unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 001088
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/ERA, INL/CIV
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EUN UNMIK KV
SUBJECT: EULEX KOSOVO COMMITTEE OF CONTRIBUTORS DISCUSSES
RECONFIGURATION AND DEPLOYMENT
REF: USEU BRUSSELS 808
This message is Sensitive But Unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.
1. (SBU) Summary: During the July 16 EULEX Kosovo Committee
of Contributors meeting, EU Civilian Operations Commander
Kees Klompenhouwer told EU member and third-state
contributors that the EU and the UN were still trying to
reach agreement on reconfiguration details. As a result of
the unexpected delays in this process, EULEX is unlikely to
reach full operational capability until late 2008.
Klompenhouwer highlighted the EU's recent agreement on an
operational plan annex addressing non-majority areas. The
U.S. was joined by other contributors in welcoming the annex
and the commitment to deploy throughout Kosovo implied by its
adoption. Many participants emphasized the need for clarity
from the UN on timing of the transfer of authority, and some
contributors called on EU members to help positively
influence the EU-UN negotiations by reminding UN officials
that the EU remains united on moving EULEX forward, despite
lack of unanimity in recognizing Kosovo's independence.
EULEX Head of Police Rainer Kuehn briefed contributors on the
police deployment timeline, noting that the EU currently has
300 personnel deployed in all regions of Kosovo, and when
agreement is reached with the UN, the EU is prepared to
resume deployments immediately. A number of participants
urged the EU to find a more systematic and efficient approach
to sharing mission-related information with third states.
End Summary.
2. (SBU) EU Civilian Operations Commander Kees Klompenhouwer
opened the second EULEX Committee of Contributors (CoC)
meeting on July 16 by welcoming the fifth official
third-state contributor, Croatia. (Previous CoC meeting
reported reftel). Briefly outlining the current state of
play on mission planning in Brussels, Klompenhouwer told
member and third-state participants that the optimism the EU
felt on June 26 when the UN reconfiguration instructions were
issued has been mitigated by the complexity of the process,
which has been slower and more drawn out than expected. The
EU is still looking for clarity from the UN on areas of
reconfiguration, privileges and immunities for mission
personnel, transfer of assets and transfer of staff.
Klompenhouwer drew participants' attention to the EULEX
Operational Plan (OPLAN) annex on Non-Majority Areas (NMAs),
agreed on July 15 by the Political and Security Committee
(document e-mailed to EUR/SCE). Klompenhouwer underscored
the EU's willingness to hold another CoC meeting to discuss
this final OPLAN annex if the non-EU contributors wanted to
do so. He added that CPCC also hoped to use regular CoC
meetings to introduce contributors to senior EULEX staff.
Annex for NMAs and Calls for Full Deployment
--------------
3. (SBU) USEU Charge d'Affaires opened the discussion by
highlighting the need for EULEX to deploy as quickly and
effectively as possible, and to ensure that there would be no
security gap during the transition period. Norway, Croatia,
and Switzerland agreed with the U.S. position. Klompenhouwer
responded, saying that the EU had no indications of a major
risk to stability from either side. He further noted that
UNMIK will retain executive responsibility in Kosovo until
the EU takes over.
4. (SBU) Charge was also joined by the UK, Norway and
Croatia in welcoming the annex for the NMAs and underscoring
the importance of EULEX deployment throughout Kosovo. The UK
official explained that the document provides a meaningful
demonstration of how the EU is building its presence in
Kosovo. He added that that the annex detailed ways in which
EULEX "might" tackle the NMAs, and emphasized that that the
EU should be prepared to adjust its approach as necessary to
address events on the ground. (Note: UK rep told Charge
separately that the idea of producing an annex to define the
EU presence in the NMAs had been controversial, but the UK
and others pushed for it to demonstrate the EU's intent to
deploy throughout Kosovo.) Most third state contributors and
many member states agreed with Klompenhouwer's suggestion to
hold a separate CoC meeting to discuss the annex.
Questions about Timing, Bigger EU Push at the UN
BRUSSELS 00001088 002 OF 003
-------------- ---
5. (SBU) On the subject of EU-UN discussions, Turkey,
Switzerland, and Germany raised questions on anticipated
timing of the transfer of authority from UNMIK to EULEX.
Norway and the UK joined the U.S. in urging contributors to
seek clarity from the UN on the modalities of the
reconfiguration. Specifically, the UK noted EU unity on
EULEX deployment and urged all EU members -- whether they had
recognized Kosovo or not -- to appeal directly to DPKO and UN
authorities to disabuse them of any ideas that the EU was
divided on moving this mission forward. Norway added that an
unclear division of labor between the EU and UN risked
paralyzing Kosovar institutions, and argued that the EU
should not agree to arrangements that imply that Kosovo's
status remains unresolved.
6. (SBU) Klompenhouwer refused to be drawn into questions
about the EU's approach to the UN and DPKO. He said that it
was a "sensitive area" and that CPCC did not want to be
unhelpful to the NY process, but would work to keep the UN
focused on issues that needed to be resolved. He emphasized
that the EU would deploy under the umbrella of the UN, but
would maintain its own autonomous command and control
procedures. On timing, Klompenhouwer admitted that there
would be a delay, and that it would likely be the end of the
year -- not October as initially hoped -- before EULEX would
be fully operational.
Police Deployments and Selections
--------------
7. (SBU) EULEX Head of Police Rainer Kuehn briefed the group
on the status of police deployments, explaining that 300
EULEX personnel are currently in Kosovo, with small
contingents deployed throughout the country, including the
north. As soon as satisfactory arrangements are reached with
the UN further deployment can begin, and the next group to be
deployed will include 60 personnel identified as key staff; a
list of those positions soon will be provided to
contributors. Anticipating a weekly deployment rate of 100
staff members after that, Kuehn said that by week 8, EULEX
would have approximately 500 International Police Officers
(IPOs) in Kosovo. The EU anticipates that 150 of the 350
IPOs currently serving in UNMIK who are slated to transfer to
EULEX will transfer during the 120-day reconfiguration time
frame The rest will move to EULEX only upon transfer of
authority (ToA),so as to better preserve UNMIK's ability to
perform its executive functions during the interim period.
Additionally, the 450 officers in Formed Police Units in KFOR
and UNMIK will stay at their posts until ToA.
8. (SBU) Admitting that EULEX has received a number of
questions about the selection procedures for mission
personnel, Kuehn explained that the EU approach to staffing
the mission is very different to that of UNMIK. While UNMIK
relies on sending states to provide staff who are assigned
positions upon arrival in Kosovo, the EU has issued job
descriptions and requirements for each position in the
mission, so each candidate must apply for one or multiple
specific positions. The EU also conducts interviews for the
senior-level positions. Kuehn admitted that the EU's process
inevitably takes longer than the UNMIK method, but argued
that the EU was able to ensure it received the best possible
candidates by adhering to this procedure.
9. (SBU) Kuehn asked CoC participants to alert their
national capitals that the annex on NMAs describes an
additional 334 positions to reinforce the EULEX presence in
the north and enclaves, and that the EU will hope to fill
those slots in a call for contributions to be issued later
this month. He added that EULEX and the Civilian Planning
and Conduct Capability (CPCC) are currently examining
candidates for the other 160 remaining vacancies in the
mission, but anticipate that some will go unfilled during
this round, and therefore, some jobs will be re-issued soon.
Because of the delay in reaching full operational capability,
Kuehn also requested that contributing states make available
their personnel to EULEX for at least six months after ToA.
A shorter time frame would inhibit officers from developing
relationships and credibility with local authorities and
populations, he argued.
BRUSSELS 00001088 003 OF 003
Requests for More Information Sharing and Policy Details
-------------- --------------
10. (SBU) Led by Turkey, a number of participants including
Switzerland, the Netherlands, Finland, and Italy urged the EU
to implement a more efficient system for the dissemination of
mission-related information to third states. Noting previous
requests to be provided with relevant documents on a timely
basis, the Turkish rep highlighted the absence of a
systematic means of delivering the documents. The Dutch and
Finnish officials said that frequent briefings from senior
EULEX officials were useful in maintaining national
commitment and generating political acceptance in capitals.
They urged CPCC to conduct frequent briefings for member and
third-state contributors. The French Presidency also
emphasized the importance of the CoC format to disseminate
information and exchange opinions, as well as to offer French
support for holding the meetings as often as necessary.
11. (SBU) In response to a U.S. question about whether the
EU planned to issue a handbook outlining EU policies and
procedures for police operations, Klompenhouwer told Charge
privately that Pristina-based staff were working on such a
document, but because the EU has to try to define one set of
EU police practices from 27 similar, but not identical,
national police standards, the handbook has been a challenge
to complete. CPCC is attempting to keep the discussion away
from Brussels, he said, because it would inevitably raise a
great deal of unhelpful debate among interior ministers.
WOHLERS
.
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/ERA, INL/CIV
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EUN UNMIK KV
SUBJECT: EULEX KOSOVO COMMITTEE OF CONTRIBUTORS DISCUSSES
RECONFIGURATION AND DEPLOYMENT
REF: USEU BRUSSELS 808
This message is Sensitive But Unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.
1. (SBU) Summary: During the July 16 EULEX Kosovo Committee
of Contributors meeting, EU Civilian Operations Commander
Kees Klompenhouwer told EU member and third-state
contributors that the EU and the UN were still trying to
reach agreement on reconfiguration details. As a result of
the unexpected delays in this process, EULEX is unlikely to
reach full operational capability until late 2008.
Klompenhouwer highlighted the EU's recent agreement on an
operational plan annex addressing non-majority areas. The
U.S. was joined by other contributors in welcoming the annex
and the commitment to deploy throughout Kosovo implied by its
adoption. Many participants emphasized the need for clarity
from the UN on timing of the transfer of authority, and some
contributors called on EU members to help positively
influence the EU-UN negotiations by reminding UN officials
that the EU remains united on moving EULEX forward, despite
lack of unanimity in recognizing Kosovo's independence.
EULEX Head of Police Rainer Kuehn briefed contributors on the
police deployment timeline, noting that the EU currently has
300 personnel deployed in all regions of Kosovo, and when
agreement is reached with the UN, the EU is prepared to
resume deployments immediately. A number of participants
urged the EU to find a more systematic and efficient approach
to sharing mission-related information with third states.
End Summary.
2. (SBU) EU Civilian Operations Commander Kees Klompenhouwer
opened the second EULEX Committee of Contributors (CoC)
meeting on July 16 by welcoming the fifth official
third-state contributor, Croatia. (Previous CoC meeting
reported reftel). Briefly outlining the current state of
play on mission planning in Brussels, Klompenhouwer told
member and third-state participants that the optimism the EU
felt on June 26 when the UN reconfiguration instructions were
issued has been mitigated by the complexity of the process,
which has been slower and more drawn out than expected. The
EU is still looking for clarity from the UN on areas of
reconfiguration, privileges and immunities for mission
personnel, transfer of assets and transfer of staff.
Klompenhouwer drew participants' attention to the EULEX
Operational Plan (OPLAN) annex on Non-Majority Areas (NMAs),
agreed on July 15 by the Political and Security Committee
(document e-mailed to EUR/SCE). Klompenhouwer underscored
the EU's willingness to hold another CoC meeting to discuss
this final OPLAN annex if the non-EU contributors wanted to
do so. He added that CPCC also hoped to use regular CoC
meetings to introduce contributors to senior EULEX staff.
Annex for NMAs and Calls for Full Deployment
--------------
3. (SBU) USEU Charge d'Affaires opened the discussion by
highlighting the need for EULEX to deploy as quickly and
effectively as possible, and to ensure that there would be no
security gap during the transition period. Norway, Croatia,
and Switzerland agreed with the U.S. position. Klompenhouwer
responded, saying that the EU had no indications of a major
risk to stability from either side. He further noted that
UNMIK will retain executive responsibility in Kosovo until
the EU takes over.
4. (SBU) Charge was also joined by the UK, Norway and
Croatia in welcoming the annex for the NMAs and underscoring
the importance of EULEX deployment throughout Kosovo. The UK
official explained that the document provides a meaningful
demonstration of how the EU is building its presence in
Kosovo. He added that that the annex detailed ways in which
EULEX "might" tackle the NMAs, and emphasized that that the
EU should be prepared to adjust its approach as necessary to
address events on the ground. (Note: UK rep told Charge
separately that the idea of producing an annex to define the
EU presence in the NMAs had been controversial, but the UK
and others pushed for it to demonstrate the EU's intent to
deploy throughout Kosovo.) Most third state contributors and
many member states agreed with Klompenhouwer's suggestion to
hold a separate CoC meeting to discuss the annex.
Questions about Timing, Bigger EU Push at the UN
BRUSSELS 00001088 002 OF 003
-------------- ---
5. (SBU) On the subject of EU-UN discussions, Turkey,
Switzerland, and Germany raised questions on anticipated
timing of the transfer of authority from UNMIK to EULEX.
Norway and the UK joined the U.S. in urging contributors to
seek clarity from the UN on the modalities of the
reconfiguration. Specifically, the UK noted EU unity on
EULEX deployment and urged all EU members -- whether they had
recognized Kosovo or not -- to appeal directly to DPKO and UN
authorities to disabuse them of any ideas that the EU was
divided on moving this mission forward. Norway added that an
unclear division of labor between the EU and UN risked
paralyzing Kosovar institutions, and argued that the EU
should not agree to arrangements that imply that Kosovo's
status remains unresolved.
6. (SBU) Klompenhouwer refused to be drawn into questions
about the EU's approach to the UN and DPKO. He said that it
was a "sensitive area" and that CPCC did not want to be
unhelpful to the NY process, but would work to keep the UN
focused on issues that needed to be resolved. He emphasized
that the EU would deploy under the umbrella of the UN, but
would maintain its own autonomous command and control
procedures. On timing, Klompenhouwer admitted that there
would be a delay, and that it would likely be the end of the
year -- not October as initially hoped -- before EULEX would
be fully operational.
Police Deployments and Selections
--------------
7. (SBU) EULEX Head of Police Rainer Kuehn briefed the group
on the status of police deployments, explaining that 300
EULEX personnel are currently in Kosovo, with small
contingents deployed throughout the country, including the
north. As soon as satisfactory arrangements are reached with
the UN further deployment can begin, and the next group to be
deployed will include 60 personnel identified as key staff; a
list of those positions soon will be provided to
contributors. Anticipating a weekly deployment rate of 100
staff members after that, Kuehn said that by week 8, EULEX
would have approximately 500 International Police Officers
(IPOs) in Kosovo. The EU anticipates that 150 of the 350
IPOs currently serving in UNMIK who are slated to transfer to
EULEX will transfer during the 120-day reconfiguration time
frame The rest will move to EULEX only upon transfer of
authority (ToA),so as to better preserve UNMIK's ability to
perform its executive functions during the interim period.
Additionally, the 450 officers in Formed Police Units in KFOR
and UNMIK will stay at their posts until ToA.
8. (SBU) Admitting that EULEX has received a number of
questions about the selection procedures for mission
personnel, Kuehn explained that the EU approach to staffing
the mission is very different to that of UNMIK. While UNMIK
relies on sending states to provide staff who are assigned
positions upon arrival in Kosovo, the EU has issued job
descriptions and requirements for each position in the
mission, so each candidate must apply for one or multiple
specific positions. The EU also conducts interviews for the
senior-level positions. Kuehn admitted that the EU's process
inevitably takes longer than the UNMIK method, but argued
that the EU was able to ensure it received the best possible
candidates by adhering to this procedure.
9. (SBU) Kuehn asked CoC participants to alert their
national capitals that the annex on NMAs describes an
additional 334 positions to reinforce the EULEX presence in
the north and enclaves, and that the EU will hope to fill
those slots in a call for contributions to be issued later
this month. He added that EULEX and the Civilian Planning
and Conduct Capability (CPCC) are currently examining
candidates for the other 160 remaining vacancies in the
mission, but anticipate that some will go unfilled during
this round, and therefore, some jobs will be re-issued soon.
Because of the delay in reaching full operational capability,
Kuehn also requested that contributing states make available
their personnel to EULEX for at least six months after ToA.
A shorter time frame would inhibit officers from developing
relationships and credibility with local authorities and
populations, he argued.
BRUSSELS 00001088 003 OF 003
Requests for More Information Sharing and Policy Details
-------------- --------------
10. (SBU) Led by Turkey, a number of participants including
Switzerland, the Netherlands, Finland, and Italy urged the EU
to implement a more efficient system for the dissemination of
mission-related information to third states. Noting previous
requests to be provided with relevant documents on a timely
basis, the Turkish rep highlighted the absence of a
systematic means of delivering the documents. The Dutch and
Finnish officials said that frequent briefings from senior
EULEX officials were useful in maintaining national
commitment and generating political acceptance in capitals.
They urged CPCC to conduct frequent briefings for member and
third-state contributors. The French Presidency also
emphasized the importance of the CoC format to disseminate
information and exchange opinions, as well as to offer French
support for holding the meetings as often as necessary.
11. (SBU) In response to a U.S. question about whether the
EU planned to issue a handbook outlining EU policies and
procedures for police operations, Klompenhouwer told Charge
privately that Pristina-based staff were working on such a
document, but because the EU has to try to define one set of
EU police practices from 27 similar, but not identical,
national police standards, the handbook has been a challenge
to complete. CPCC is attempting to keep the discussion away
from Brussels, he said, because it would inevitably raise a
great deal of unhelpful debate among interior ministers.
WOHLERS
.