Brammertz meetings on fugitives, Kosovo case

Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz met in Belgrade on Thursday with Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic. According to Vukcevic, Brammertz said that cooperation with Serbia's War Crimes Prosecutor's Office was "good". Brammertz meetings on fugitives, Kosovo case Vukcevic pointed out that the chief Hague prosecutor did not comment on Serbia's efforts in the search for fugitives Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic. Brammertz is expected to give his assessment of the search in May, when he is due to visit Belgrade again before submitting a report on Serbia's cooperation with the Hague to the UN Security Council. Vukcevic said he believes the report will be positive. Commenting on Brammertz's criticism before the European Parliament that not enough people are involved in the search, Vukcevic noted that over 10,000 people are searching for Mladic and Hadzic every day. "Every police officer in the street is obligated to stop any person who resembles the fugitives, ask for their ID, and take the appropriate steps," Vukcevic said and added that Brammertz does not meddle in the operating methods of the action team. The prosecutor noted that investigation into organ trafficking in Kosovo was not discussed in the meeting. Vukcevic meets with Brammertz (Beta) Organ trafficking This issue was on the agenda as Head of the National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal Rasim Ljajic met with Brammertz. According to reports, they agreed that an efficient investigation into organ trafficking in Kosovo needs to start as soon as possible, and that all relevant institutions need to cooperate with the investigation. A recent report by CoE Rapporteur Dick Marty accused the ethnic Albanian KLA of kidnapping and killing for their organs Serb civilians in Kosovo in 1999 and 2000. Ljajic and Brammertz talked about the unknown fate of 524 people whose disappearance can be attributed to the Kosovo Liberation Army, and agreed this is an important issue, the National Council said in a statement. They concluded that cooperation between Serbia and the Hague is professional and without difficulties when it comes to delivering documentation, access to state archives and witnesses, and all other technical aspects of cooperation which are under the purview of the National Council. "All requests from the prosecutor's office are complied with within the agreed timeframe," the statement reads and adds that the National Council will do everything do keep the cooperation at the same level in the future.

Brammertz meetings on fugitives, Kosovo case

Vukčević pointed out that the chief Hague prosecutor did not comment on Serbia's efforts in the search for fugitives Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić.

Brammertz is expected to give his assessment of the search in May, when he is due to visit Belgrade again before submitting a report on Serbia's cooperation with the Hague to the UN Security Council. Vukčević said he believes the report will be positive.

Commenting on Brammertz's criticism before the European Parliament that not enough people are involved in the search, Vukčević noted that over 10,000 people are searching for Mladić and Hadžić every day.

"Every police officer in the street is obligated to stop any person who resembles the fugitives, ask for their ID, and take the appropriate steps," Vukčević said and added that Brammertz does not meddle in the operating methods of the action team.

The prosecutor noted that investigation into organ trafficking in Kosovo was not discussed in the meeting.

Organ trafficking

This issue was on the agenda as Head of the National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal Rasim Ljajić met with Brammertz.

According to reports, they agreed that an efficient investigation into organ trafficking in Kosovo needs to start as soon as possible, and that all relevant institutions need to cooperate with the investigation.

A recent report by CoE Rapporteur Dick Marty accused the ethnic Albanian KLA of kidnapping and killing for their organs Serb civilians in Kosovo in 1999 and 2000.

Ljajić and Brammertz talked about the unknown fate of 524 people whose disappearance can be attributed to the Kosovo Liberation Army, and agreed this is an important issue, the National Council said in a statement.

They concluded that cooperation between Serbia and the Hague is professional and without difficulties when it comes to delivering documentation, access to state archives and witnesses, and all other technical aspects of cooperation which are under the purview of the National Council.

"All requests from the prosecutor's office are complied with within the agreed timeframe," the statement reads and adds that the National Council will do everything do keep the cooperation at the same level in the future.