Huge blow to the image and reputation of EULEX (Danas)
I am carefully following developments in relation with the allegations against some former and current officials of EULEX mission in Kosovo. Of course, until those allegations don’t take an epilogue in a form of valid decisions it would be inappropriate to condemn anyone in advance, said the European Parliament MP Tanja Fajon to Danas, while commenting the claims on efforts invested in covering up cases dealt by the EULEX mission.
Fajon pointed out that considering the key goal of EULEX mission, which is the rule of law, where fight against the corruption is ‘actually the core of it’, it would be at least discouraging if established that those who ‘guard the rule of law in Kosovo in the same time misuse that right’. “EU, which leads the global fight for the rule of law, can’t afford it to itself,” stressed Fajon.
The Deputy Director of the German Southeast Europe Association Johanna Deimel assessed that such accusations against the EULEX, no matter on whether they are grounded or not, present a huge blow for the image and reputation of the EU mission, launched with the goal to establish the rule of law, not only in Kosovo, but in Serbia and the international scene as well.
“From that reason it is important that an investigation has been launched and that Kenneth Dean has been sent to Kosovo to investigate the accusations with regard to corruption in EULEX. If the investigation is carried out seriously, it would be the best way to prove the maturity of EULEX. For some time now, and before those accusation were said, we knew that this mission would close, but that it should also be engaged in future in the special war crimes court,” said Deimel.
The spokeswoman of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Maja Kocijancic, said yesterday that Mogherini and the European Parliament endeavor to establish all facts related to the claims of the suspended EULEX prosecutor Maria Bamieh that judges and prosecutors of this EU mission have received bribes.