20/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - The head of the European Union's future mission of rule of law in Kosovo (EULEX), Yves de Kermabon of France, confirmed on 19 May that deployment of the mission was to be delayed and that it would not begin mid-June as planned. Mr de Kermabon did not give any further details concerning this delay in deployment of the 2,000-strong force, speaking of “political and technical” reasons behind transition from UNMIK observer status to an EU led force. It is a known fact that Russia wants the European mission to be placed under UN authority, but, according to Yves de Kermabon, “things are very clear for EULEX: the command chain will be in Brussels”. A meeting between representatives of the UN, the EU and NATO is to be held on 21 May in Vienna to seek to resolve the problem. (H.B.)