BRUSSELS, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- The European Union has approved a plan to send a team of civilians and police personnel to Kosovo, diplomatic sources said Saturday.
With the Serbian province expected to officially announce its independence Sunday, the European Union approved sending nearly 2,000 people to Kosovo to replace a United Nations team currently stationed there, RIA Novosti said.
The EU vote to send the EULEX Kosovo mission, which includes 1,500 policemen, was unanimous despite opposition from both Russia and Serbia.
On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said current international policy mandates that only the U.N. Security Council can authorize such a personnel change in Kosovo.
"We are convinced that Security Council resolution 1244 is valid. And we draw the attention of our EU partners, who have said a great deal lately about their desire and decision to send an additional mission to the territory, that a change in the international makeup in Kosovo is possible only on the basis of a relevant decision by the Security Council," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said.
