Brussels, 30/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - After the first interparliamentary meeting of the European Parliament-Kosovo Parliamentary Assembly, held in Brussels on 28 and 29 May, representatives from both sides called for light to be shed on the future international presence in Kosovo, where the European Union's rule of law and police mission (EULEX) is to replace the UN police mission (UNMIK) as of 15 June. In recent days, however, it has been confirmed that deployment of the European mission will be delayed due to Russian and Serbian opposition within UN bodies to the baton being passed from UNMIK to EULEX, without any further decision from the Security Council. “It is urgent to clarify the legal environment and respective responsibilities of the United Nations and European Union missions in Kosovo. They cannot together and simultaneously perform the same authority”, the two co-presidents of the EP/Kosovo parliamentary meeting - Doris Pack (EPP-Ed, Germany) and Speaker of the Kosovar Parliament Jakup Krasniqi - say in a joint declaration published after the meeting. The two parties call on the secretary general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, to “facilitate the transition” between UNMIK and the European mission and to “recognise EULEX as part of the international presence in Kosovo, acting in accordance with the international legal order”. The European mission must be deployed throughout Kosovo territory, including in the north where there is a majority of Serbs, the joint statement reads. The long debate on the status of Kosovo, as well as the persistent legal uncertainties have a negative and “worrying” impact on the economy of Kosovo, deputies from both parties say. The Kosovar authorities must have “ownership” of their country's economic development and “rapidly submit a detailed economic development plan”, mainly with a view to the international donors' conference scheduled for this summer. At the level of rule of law, the Kosovar institutions must above all work to promote a “functioning multi-ethnic and democratic European society, which alone can allow Kosovo to obtain self-sustainability and European integration”. The fight against corruption and organised crime must also remain an absolute priority of the new institutions of the young State, the declaration reads, adding: “We call for government and international institutions in Kosovo to be firm in implementing their anti-corruption policies”. Serb deputies at the Kosovar parliament are encouraged to pursue their “positive participation” and to continue towards full integration in Kosovo society. (H.B.)