Marty on witness security, impartial probe

Following his report on crimes and human organ trafficking in Kosovo, and Albania, Dick Marty pointed to the problem of securing an impartial investigation. The Council of Europe rapporteur also commented on "an appropriate court which would guarantee the security of witnesses and which would not allow pressures from the outside". Marty on witness security, impartial probe "We have to remember that even the Hague (Tribunal) prosecution was exposed to various pressures," Marty recalled in an interview with the Russian radio Echo of Moscow. "My report on crimes in Kosovo is not directed against Albanians, but rather meets the wish of those people in Kosovo who want to live in a country which is governed by law and is free from organized crime," Marty stressed. The European parliamentarian said that the witnesses he interviewed trusted neither national nor international governmental institutions. He recalled the case against former KLA member and Kosovo Albanian Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, when prosecution witnesses testified in the investigative proceedings, but were unable to testify in court since they had been murdered shorty before that. "People are unlikely to disclose any information if they fear such an outcome and if nobody can guarantee their safety," Marty underlined. According to Marty, the most serious crimes were committed in the period after the withdrawal of the Serbian armed forces from Kosovo in late 1999, before the arrival of international forces. During this gap, the territory was practically under the control of the Kosovo Albanian so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), which, according to him, was NATO's ally on the ground during the bombing campaign against Serbia. "A great number of Serbs were killed, but also Albanians who were viewed as collaborators, and the crimes were not committed only in Kosovo," but in Albania as well, Marty said. Asked whether he had any material evidence to support his report, Marty pointed out that PACE was not a judicial investigative body and that his job was only to present the report. It is for political authorities to make appropriate conclusions, he added. Future should not be built on the grounds of an unclear past, Marty said, refusing to speculate on the further developments concerning Hashim Thaci. The outgoing Kosovo Albanian prime minister has an important role in criminal operations in Kosovo, the CoE rapporteur said, identifying him as the boss of an infamous crime ring, which has more than once been linked to a series of illegal activities. "It would be in Thaci's best interest if the truth finally won," Marty underscored. "The international community and the Western governments prefer stability, and fear that an investigation against ranking officials could destabilize the region of Kosovo," Marty noted. "However, what they seem to forget is that truth cannot be concealed for too long, and that without it there can be no stable future," the Swiss senator explained. Dick Marty (Beta/AP)

Marty on witness security, impartial probe

"We have to remember that even the Hague (Tribunal) prosecution was exposed to various pressures," Marty recalled in an interview with the Russian radio Echo of Moscow.

"My report on crimes in Kosovo is not directed against Albanians, but rather meets the wish of those people in Kosovo who want to live in a country which is governed by law and is free from organized crime," Marty stressed.

The European parliamentarian said that the witnesses he interviewed trusted neither national nor international governmental institutions. He recalled the case against former KLA member and Kosovo Albanian Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, when prosecution witnesses testified in the investigative proceedings, but were unable to testify in court since they had been murdered shorty before that.

"People are unlikely to disclose any information if they fear such an outcome and if nobody can guarantee their safety," Marty underlined.

According to Marty, the most serious crimes were committed in the period after the withdrawal of the Serbian armed forces from Kosovo in late 1999, before the arrival of international forces. During this gap, the territory was practically under the control of the Kosovo Albanian so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), which, according to him, was NATO's ally on the ground during the bombing campaign against Serbia.

"A great number of Serbs were killed, but also Albanians who were viewed as collaborators, and the crimes were not committed only in Kosovo," but in Albania as well, Marty said.

Asked whether he had any material evidence to support his report, Marty pointed out that PACE was not a judicial investigative body and that his job was only to present the report. It is for political authorities to make appropriate conclusions, he added.

Future should not be built on the grounds of an unclear past, Marty said, refusing to speculate on the further developments concerning Hashim Thaci.

The outgoing Kosovo Albanian prime minister has an important role in criminal operations in Kosovo, the CoE rapporteur said, identifying him as the boss of an infamous crime ring, which has more than once been linked to a series of illegal activities.

"It would be in Thaci's best interest if the truth finally won," Marty underscored.

"The international community and the Western governments prefer stability, and fear that an investigation against ranking officials could destabilize the region of Kosovo," Marty noted.

"However, what they seem to forget is that truth cannot be concealed for too long, and that without it there can be no stable future," the Swiss senator explained.