30 July 2013

EULEX is deploying more experienced senior police advisors from Pristina to Mitrovica, taking the total number there to 23. The additional police advisors will support the Kosovo Police Regional Command Team in the north, and in particular the Acting Regional Commander Nenad Djuric. They will supplement the ongoing MMA support to KP in the north.

The Regional Command Team was established as an outcome of the Dialogue agreement between Pristina and Belgrade in April 2013. The redeployment will help to ensure that EULEX provides a consistent and 'joined up' Monitoring, Mentoring and Advising (MMA) approach at all levels within the KP command structure. This will provide the Regional Command Team and its Commander with the best possible start to its operations in northern Kosovo. EULEX will make a special effort to support the implementation of the Pristina-Belgrade Dialogue, and we place special emphasis on building the capacity of improved policing in the north. EULEX also intends to donate material equipment to the new Regional Command Team, principally in the form of vehicles.

EULEX Head of Mission Bernd Borchardt explained that his decision to send additional advisors to the north was made as a recognition of the special challenges that exists for successful policing in the north, especially in the light of the situation in recent days. "We recognize that there is a new policing team in the north and as we have done with other Regional Commanders, we are offering our expertise and support so he is able deliver to the highest possible policing standards", says Bernd Borchardt.