Belgrade, Priština support investigation

After the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted Dick Marty’s report on Tuesday both Belgrade and Pristina eagerly expect the investigation. Marty also expects the investigation into human organ trade in Kosovo and Albania to begin. Belgrade, Pristina support investigation Belgrade, however, does not believe that EULEX could deal with it and that the investigation should be conducted by an independent international organization. Up until now the investigation was conditioned by evidence which EULEX demanded from the CoE rapporteur. Marty, however, thinks that everything is up to the judiciary after adoption of the resolution by the PACE. “It’s up to investigative courts now to find the evidence. I’m ready to help in the investigation, finding evidence, forwarding of information and names of witnesses but only if there is a way not to put those people at risk,” he stressed. “The question why the investigation was not launched earlier repeats, bearing in mind that the name of Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has been linked to organized crime for years, but my thoughts go out to the families that are still looking for their loved ones, their children. It is up to the judicial authorities to make sure that the justice is served,” Marty added. Marty also commented on first UNMIK Chief Bernard Kouchner’s reaction to his information about organ trafficking. “What can one say to a person who laughs in such circumstances,” he said shortly. Marty has already received support from official Belgrade. “We expect the investigation to begin. The Council of Europe cannot conduct the investigation, it points to certain facts but the investigation needs to be conducted by those who are competent and those are primarily international organs in accordance with the Resolution 1244, which unfortunately includes EULEX,” said member of the Serbian delegation in Strasbourg Milos Aligrudic. Serbian Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic stated on Tuesday that the adoption of Marty's report and the resolution on the illegal human organ trafficking in Kosovo in the PACE would help change the international community's stand regarding the events that took place in the southern Serbian province in 1999. He told Tanjug that this did not mean that states that have recognized Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence would also change their stand, but that they would be more careful in every future contact. “Initiating criminal investigation is the least we should expect. EULEX should carry out the investigation and bring to justice the individuals directly involved in the matter,” Ivanovic said. He added that this would not be a pleasant experience for Kosovo Albanians, especially for those who were directly or indirectly involved in human organ trafficking. “Albanians should not homogenize now. I expect their intellectuals to use this as a motive to start dealing away with all that was bad in the past,” the state secretary stated. Kosovo Acting President Jakup Krasniqi said late Tuesday that the Kosovo institutions urged EULEX to expeditiously investigate the allegations made in Marty's report, in order to clear up the situation as soon as possible. After the PACE had adopted Marty's report and accompanying resolution, Krasniqi told the Kosovo media that Pristina was ready to face the truth. “We are ready and want to face this period, because we are convinced these allegations cannot be proven. We urge EULEX to expeditiously investigate Dick Marty's claims, in order to clear up the situation as soon as possible. We want the truth the come out, not matter how painful,” he pointed out. The acting Kosovo president said he believed the report and resolution would not deter more countries from recognizing Kosovo. “Still, consequences will be felt, both by Kosovo's institutions and the people who were unfairly included in the report,” he stated. An internal investigation into leak of secret KFOR reports to the media has already begun in Kosovo. The reports, which have been published by the British Guardian, describe Thaci as “one of the key players” of the organized crime in Kosovo. The documents represent pretty solid evidence that the Americans and other western powers knew about Thaci’s connections with the Kosovo underground even before 2004. Dick Marty addresses a PACE session (Beta)

Belgrade, Priština support investigation

Belgrade, however, does not believe that EULEX could deal with it and that the investigation should be conducted by an independent international organization.

Up until now the investigation was conditioned by evidence which EULEX demanded from the CoE rapporteur. Marty, however, thinks that everything is up to the judiciary after adoption of the resolution by the PACE.

“It’s up to investigative courts now to find the evidence. I’m ready to help in the investigation, finding evidence, forwarding of information and names of witnesses but only if there is a way not to put those people at risk,” he stressed.

“The question why the investigation was not launched earlier repeats, bearing in mind that the name of Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has been linked to organized crime for years, but my thoughts go out to the families that are still looking for their loved ones, their children. It is up to the judicial authorities to make sure that the justice is served,” Marty added.

Marty also commented on first UNMIK Chief Bernard Kouchner’s reaction to his information about organ trafficking.

“What can one say to a person who laughs in such circumstances,” he said shortly.

Marty has already received support from official Belgrade.

“We expect the investigation to begin. The Council of Europe cannot conduct the investigation, it points to certain facts but the investigation needs to be conducted by those who are competent and those are primarily international organs in accordance with the Resolution 1244, which unfortunately includes EULEX,” said member of the Serbian delegation in Strasbourg Miloš Aligrudić.

Serbian Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanović stated on Tuesday that the adoption of Marty's report and the resolution on the illegal human organ trafficking in Kosovo in the PACE would help change the international community's stand regarding the events that took place in the southern Serbian province in 1999.

He told Tanjug that this did not mean that states that have recognized Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence would also change their stand, but that they would be more careful in every future contact.

“Initiating criminal investigation is the least we should expect. EULEX should carry out the investigation and bring to justice the individuals directly involved in the matter,” Ivanović said.

He added that this would not be a pleasant experience for Kosovo Albanians, especially for those who were directly or indirectly involved in human organ trafficking.

“Albanians should not homogenize now. I expect their intellectuals to use this as a motive to start dealing away with all that was bad in the past,” the state secretary stated.

Kosovo Acting President Jakup Krasniqi said late Tuesday that the Kosovo institutions urged EULEX to expeditiously investigate the allegations made in Marty's report, in order to clear up the situation as soon as possible.

After the PACE had adopted Marty's report and accompanying resolution, Krasniqi told the Kosovo media that Pristina was ready to face the truth.

“We are ready and want to face this period, because we are convinced these allegations cannot be proven. We urge EULEX to expeditiously investigate Dick Marty's claims, in order to clear up the situation as soon as possible. We want the truth the come out, not matter how painful,” he pointed out.

The acting Kosovo president said he believed the report and resolution would not deter more countries from recognizing Kosovo.

“Still, consequences will be felt, both by Kosovo's institutions and the people who were unfairly included in the report,” he stated.

An internal investigation into leak of secret KFOR reports to the media has already begun in Kosovo. The reports, which have been published by the British Guardian, describe Thaci as “one of the key players” of the organized crime in Kosovo.

The documents represent pretty solid evidence that the Americans and other western powers knew about Thaci’s connections with the Kosovo underground even before 2004.