The new EULEX mission should be operational in a few days. Its legal basis is a report by the Secretary General on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo which was adopted by the UN Security Council last week:

"I expect EULEX to move forward with its deployment in the coming period and to assume responsibilities in the areas of policing, justice and customs, under the overall authority of the United Nations, under a United Nations umbrella headed by my Special Representative, and in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999). UNMIK has been working closely with EULEX on technical arrangements designed to facilitate its deployment under resolution 1244 (1999)." (Ban Ki Moon in the Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo from 24 November 2008) (click on "MORE" to read on)

Monika Hauser, the founder of the NGO medica mondiale, has dedicated her life to supporting women who are victims of psychological, physical, and sexual violence in crisis regions. Medica mondiale has started its activities during the war in Bosnia and is still active in the Balkan region (as in many other crisis regions in the world). Monika Hauser will be awarded the "Alternative Nobel" prize next Monday (8 Dec). Here is an interview with her (in German).