On 11 November, the Spokesperson of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Donika Berisha Rizaj, gave an interview to ABC News Albania and talked about the deployment of EULEX’s Reserve Formed Police Unit (RFPU), the Mission’s role as Kosovo’s second security responder, and EULEX’s monitoring presence in northern Kosovo.

Berisha Rizaj confirmed the recent temporary deployment to Kosovo of 23 gendarmes from the Italian Carabinieri: “On 8 November, a Reserve Formed Police Unit consisting of 23 gendarmes from the Italian Carabinieri was temporarily deployed to Kosovo to reinforce the capacity of the existing Formed Police Unit of EULEX Kosovo, which consists of 105 police officers.”

Regarding the Mission’s presence and role in northern Kosovo, the EULEX’s spokesperson explained that EULEX’s Formed Police Unit has further increased its mobile reconnaissance patrols in northern Kosovo, adding that: “EULEX’s Senior Police Advisors North are based in the compound of Kosovo Police's Region North Directorate and are providing advice to this Directorate and the four police stations under its command on number of issues. In addition, the EULEX Advisor to the Chief Prosecutor of the Mitrovica Basic Prosecution Office and the EULEX Advisor to President of Mitrovica Basic Court are closely monitoring the situation in these two justice institutions.”

Finally, Berisha Rizaj confirmed that EULEX is monitoring the situation at the Rudnica/Jarinjë and Bërnjak/Tabalije Common Crossing Points through its Formed Police Unit and that, for the time being, these two Common Crossing Points are operating normally, without disruption.

“We will do what is needed, and what it takes, to support the stability of Kosovo, within the confines of our mandate, and contribute to the security of its population,” EULEX’s Spokesperson stated, pointing out that in its role as Kosovo’s second security responder, EULEX will only engage at the explicit request of the Kosovo Police.

Full interview:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=TNpyaQlXE7A&feature=emb_title&fbclid=IwAR0M8YW9TX7YtzwL2LxIJy-cnJax0JlKFrL97zzRc6EuyzvjyU7FsrVGy4Y