Solana Arrives In Kosovo

His visit comes two days after Kosovo declared independence in a unilateral move that was accepted by the U.S. and most E.U. member states, but fiercely rejected by Serbia and its principal international ally Russia.

The visit is "a clear message of Europe's engagement" as the E.U. prepares to deploy a 2,000-strong police and justice mission to promote stability in Kosovo, said Solana's spokeswoman Cristina Gallach in Brussels.

Solana would stress during his visit the importance of stability in the western Balkans as a whole and the need for the Kosovo leaders "to work in coordination with the international community", she told AFP.

He will also repeat his appeal for "calm and responsible behavior" which he issued straight after the declaration of independence in Pristina.

As Solana headed to Pristina, groups of angry Serbs set fire to two crossing points on the Kosovo-Serbia border, prompting the first intervention by North Atlantic Treaty Organization peacekeepers since the independence declaration.

Solana was accompanied on his trip by French General Yves de Kermabon and Pieter Feith, from the Netherlands, who will respectively head the police and justice arms of the E.U. mission.

The mission was officially launched Saturday and will be fully operational after a 120-day period to train and mentor police, judges and customs officials.

"We are convinced that we can develop a substantial program of support so that Kosovo can become a country in line with international norms," said Gallach.

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