PRISTINA, Jul 07, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) -- The head of the European Union's rule of law mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Yves de Kermabon, said Monday that he would report to Brussels only and not to the United Nations headquarters in New York. 

De Kermabon said EULEX is not under UN umbrella although under the plan devised by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, EULEX will initially operate under the auspices of the reconfigured UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). 

He said EULEX is not authorized to replace UNMIK and its role is to assist Kosovo institutions. 

"In this environment EULEX is under very clear chain of command, which is a European chain of command, and we will report through this specific organization in Brussels," said the French retired general. 

He welcomed UN secretary-general's decision for UNMIK reconfiguration, hoping it would enable EULEX deployment and operation in whole Kosovo territory. 

De Kermabon made the comments after meeting Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu to discuss EULEX deployment in Kosovo, which is facing serious obstacles because of strong opposition from ethnic Serbs. 

The EULEX chief admitted there are serious challenges in deploying the mission in the northern Serb-dominated area, and it will take time to complete this goal. 

Sejdiu expressed his optimism for a close cooperation of Kosovo institutions with EULEX. 

"We are committed to cooperate with all international actors, especially in the area of rule of law, in order to improve the overall situation," said Sejdiu. 

EULEX will have some executive powers in the rule of law area in Kosovo under the Comprehensive Status Settlement for Kosovo's " supervised independence" devised by former UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari. 

Kosovo's Albanian majority has accepted Ahtisaari's proposal, but ethnic Serbs, in line with the Serbian government, strongly opposes it, refusing to recognize and cooperate with any mission based on that settlement. 

Serbia, which opposes Kosovo's Feb. 17 declaration of independence, rejects the deployment of the EULEX mission. Belgrade claim EULEX seeks to formalize Kosovo's independence.