Exclusive: Hackers Talk of EULEX Web Attack

The website of the EU rule-of-law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, was defaced by a group of Kosovo hackers in an attack which took just 15 minutes, it has emerged.
Kosovo Hackers Group, KHG, placed a double-headed eagle, the symbol of Albanians, on EULEX's website late on Friday.
"You cannot sell our country back to Serbia. We, Kosovo's youth, are tired of all the lies. EULEX signs agreement to destroy the future of Kosovo," was posted on www.eulex-kosovo.eu.
One of the KHG hackers, nicknamed Hitman, told Balkan Insight that the act was a protest against EULEX's plan to sign a controversial agreement with Serbia. "Kosovo authorities have invited EULEX here to help us, to help the people, and not to sign agreements with Serbia harming the interest of the people," he said.

EULEX intends to sign a protocol with Serbia's Interior Ministry to exchange information on cross-border serious crime. The agreement is seen as a technical requirement for Serbia to join the EU visa-free zone, but is also said to be important for EULEX's dealings with organised crime in Kosovo's north.
This protocol has been rejected by Kosovo authorities, which claim that the mission is not mandated to sign such agreements on Kosovo's behalf.
Kosovo Hackers Group is a virtual group of young hackers who have hacked into several websites leaving political messages. In their last attack, they defaced the websites of Serbia's President and Serbia's ministry of energy.
In an exclusive interview with Balkan Insight, one hacker told how it took him and his teammates just 15 minutes to bring down the website of EULEX.
EULEX officials said they are aware of the attack. Karin Limdal, EULEX's spokeswoman, said: "We're doing everything we can to restore the website." Although the message has now disappeared, visitors to EULEX's website could view only its homepage on Saturday.