DEMARCHE REQUEST: DPKO MUST NOT LINK EULEX

UNCLAS STATE 126562 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNGA UNMIK PREL KJUS KO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: DPKO MUST NOT LINK EULEX DEPLOYMENT TO SIX POINTS IMPLEMENTATION ¶1. This message is sensitive but unclassified: please protect accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) The Department requests that USUN demarche the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Secretariat at the highest appropriate levels to review DPKO thinking on any next steps on the interim arrangements laid out in the Secretary General's 24 November report as well as its plans to implement accelerated UNMIK reconfiguration and transition of rule of law authorities to EULEX. Conditions now are in place for EULEX to begin quickly deploying throughout Kosovo. USUN should review with DPKO the UN's views for next steps to facilitate transition of rule of law functions to EULEX and draw down. Objectives -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The adoption of the EULEX PRST on November 26 and the subsequent exchange of letters between Serbian President Tadic and EU HR Solana paves the way for EULEX deployment throughout Kosovo. We now need rapid and effective follow up to address serious political apprehension in Kosovo. Underscore our concern that implementation of any steps related to the Six Point arrangements must/must be conducted ) per the SYG's commitment -- in &continuous coordination and consultation8 with Kosovo. Transition of rule of law functions from UNMIK Police and Justice to EULEX should be rapid and should not be linked to Six Points implementation. Kosovo's leadership needs room and support to manage public opinion; EULEX, for its own credibility, also needs to deploy to the North immediately. ¶4. (SBU) Urge DPKO to ensure that operational decision-making on implementation should be left in the hands of UNMIK SRSG Zannier, who is best placed to gauge the security situation in Kosovo and determine the best pace and manner of implementation. Query DPKO on recent contacts with Serb officials and urge that these be made transparent to Government of Kosovo authorities. ¶5. (SBU) Encourage visible, practical, daily cooperation between UNMIK and EULEX and NATO/KFOR to facilitate the quick deployment of EULEX into non-majority areas throughout Kosovo, especially in northern Kosovo. EULEX personnel in Mitrovica and elsewhere in the north, with the visible support of UNMIK, would serve as critical reassurance to all citizens of Kosovo that the reconfiguration and transition is real and proceeding. ¶6. (SBU) In this regard, welcome assurances that DPKO Head Le Roy gave EUR A/S Dan Fried on November 28 that no new approvals or UN permissions were needed for EULEX to deploy into the north. With Belgrade's support for EULEX deployment now assured, it is critical that operational control of rule of law be passed effectively and completely to EULEX without interference or operational micromanagement from DPKO. RICE