Dec 9 (Reuters) - After lengthy negotiations, European and American officials began a justice and police mission in Kosovo to help bring stability to the newly independent country.

The United Nations Security Council gave a green light two weeks ago to the European Union-led mission called EULEX.

The mission was initially planned to be up and running by June but was delayed by opposition from Serbia and Kosovo's Serb minority. Here are some key facts about international oversight of Kosovo since 1999:

* In 1999, a United Nations administration was established in Kosovo to run institutions after NATO bombed rump Yugoslavia to halt the killing and expulsion of civilians in a two-year counter-insurgency war.

* In 2002 the U.N. began transfer of power to Kosovo's elected institutions.

* In February 2008 the EU decided to send a mission to Kosovo to replace the U.N. administration and oversee judiciary, police and customs.

* A first phase of deployment began in February but this stopped after Serbia insisted on U.N. Security Council approval.

* The mission will have an advisory role and will deal with organised crime, ethnic-based crime and war crimes, as well as some unsolved cases.

* Police, judiciary and customs in the Serb-held areas will report to the remaining U.N. administration. Their Albanian counterparts will work within Kosovo ministry of interior.

* The mission, headed by retired French General Yves de Kermabon, will have a total of 1,900 international and 1,100 local staff.

* Up to date about 1,400 troops have been deployed. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci and Shaban Buza. Editing by Richard Balmforth)

AlertNet news is provided by