Kosovo-Serbia Deportation Row Blamed on Unclear Protocol

Experts are calling for more clarity in the procedures between Kosovo and Serbia on official visits, following the row over the deportation of a top Serbian official from Kosovo.

Kosovo authorities on March 27 deported Marko Djuric, head of Serbia's Office for Kosovo, after police arrested him in North Mitrovica for what it was said "illegally entry into the country".

Kosovo Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli said Djuric had not respected the procedures, "to ask for permission to enter Kosovo 72 hours ahead.

"We received his request, but could not allow him to enter today," he added, accusing Djuric also of spreading "hate speech".

Experts say the so-called Brussels Agreement does provide some kind of schedule for notifications about visits by Serbian and Kosovo officials to the other country, but the procedures are not defined clearly enough.

"Two categories of officials need notifications for official visits," Katarina Tadic, from the Belgrade-based NGO European Policy Centre, explained.

Presidents, prime ministers, deputy prime ministers and interior, foreign and defence ministers belong to the first category.

They need to notify the liaison officers where the visit is taking place 72 hours in advance, and objections to their visit can be raised within the first 48 hours.

"However, Djuric falls into the second group, with all other ministers, deputy speakers of the parliament, directors of governmental offices and security related agencies, presidents of the constitutional and supreme court," she said.

"For this category, notification must be done at least 48 hours in advance and any rejection must be raised within the first 24 hours," Tadic told BIRN.

But Tadic pointed out that, ...