JURIST - Paper Chase: EU Kosovo justice mission going forward without Spain

[JURIST] EULEX Kosovo [planning website] head Yves de Kermabon said Monday that a 1,800-strong European Union police and justice mission [Reuters report] in Kosovo will go forward even in Serbian-controlled areas, despite reservations from some EU member states. Spain's Foreign Affairs Ministry [official website, in Spanish] said Monday that the country will not send personnel to the mission until the handover from the current UN mandate to the EU is formalized under the terms of the EU Council Joint Action [PDF text]. Spain was among nine EU member states that have declined to recognize [JURIST report] the Assembly of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence [text; JURIST report] from Serbia last month.

Serb ally Russia has already condemned EULEX Kosovo [JURIST report], with the Russian foreign ministry calling it "in breach of the highest international law." Russia earlier rejected Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia, warning that such unilateral action without the approval of the United Nations set a dangerous precedent for "frozen conflicts" around the world. Russia and Spain each face ongoing domestic disputes with separatist groups. AP has more. Reuters has additional coverage.

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