FM talks Kosovo probe at UN conference

FM Vuk Jeremic said in Istanbul on Tuesday that the allegations about human organ trafficking in Kosovo must be checked in an independent investigation. A probe into whether ethnic Albanian KLA kidnapped Serbs in Kosovo and sold their organs in the black market "should be carried out by the United Nations and that those responsible should be punished", according to him. FM talks Kosovo probe at UN conference The charges for this and other crimes must not be swept under the carpet, Jeremic stressed at the UN Conference On the Least Developed Countries, held in Istanbul May 9-13. "According to the report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci is one of the leaders of the conspiracy and of organizers the trafficking in human organs," he added. The Serbian foreign minister reiterated that the country's stance remained the same as before and that it would neither explicitly nor implicitly recognize the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo. In his address to the audience, Jeremic said a vast majority of the UN member states had not recognize Kosovo's independence and thanked those countries, adding that otherwise it would become a destabilizing and dangerous precedent. The determination to stand against separatism in Kosovo is the determination to be against violent division of any UN member state, the Serbian foreign minister observed. He stressed that Serbia was willing to resolve any differences at the negotiating table. Jeremic also said that the former Yugoslavia had been a member of the Non-Aligned Movement and had always had good relations with the underdeveloped states. "The traditionally good relations between Serbia and the underdeveloped countries, along with the longstanding policy of solidarity and assistance, will be a strong basis for comprehensive cooperation for which we hope will deepen in the years to come," the Serbian foreign minister underlined. Vuk Jeremic (file) Appeal on CoE Vuk Jeremic also addressed a Council of Europe gathering in Istanbul to call on this institution to support Serbia's request for the UN to lead an investigation into human organ trafficking in Kosovo, so that the full truth about the crimes would be revealed. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution January 25 based on rapporteur Dick Marty's report on human organ trafficking in Kosovo, Jeremic pointed out, adding that the report had shocked the world. He appealed to the members of the council to support the efforts to investigate those horrible crimes and to have it done under a UN mandate, the same way that it was done when it came to the war crimes in the Western Balkans. The same standard should be applied in the case of human organ trafficking as well, he stressed in his address to the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. A consistent approach to war crimes is not merely an international obligation, but also a part of the joint efforts to strengthen stability and peace in the Balkans, Jeremic stated. Serbia generally feels that forums like this one should avoid a heated debate on Kosovo, because it could endanger the ongoing talks between Belgrade and Pristina, he remarked. What is needed instead are projects that increase Council of Europe's visibility in Kosovo, he added. The recent incident when the Serb Orthodox Church of the Lady of Ljevis in Prizren was vandalized points to the critical role the Council of Europe could have in preserving Serbian heritage, the minister underlined. Serbia is willing to take part in the politics of neighborly relations adopted by the council, which aims to improve dialogue and cooperation with the countries and regions that lie next to Europe, said Jeremic. Serbia's engagement in the policy should be based on true cooperation with those countries and suited to particular situations in some of them, he stated, emphasizing that the important thing was for the Council of Europe to be seen as a form of friendly cooperation and assistance, instead of interference with those countries' internal affairs.

FM talks Kosovo probe at UN conference

The charges for this and other crimes must not be swept under the carpet, Jeremić stressed at the UN Conference On the Least Developed Countries, held in Istanbul May 9-13.

"According to the report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci is one of the leaders of the conspiracy and of organizers the trafficking in human organs," he added.

The Serbian foreign minister reiterated that the country's stance remained the same as before and that it would neither explicitly nor implicitly recognize the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo.

In his address to the audience, Jeremić said a vast majority of the UN member states had not recognize Kosovo's independence and thanked those countries, adding that otherwise it would become a destabilizing and dangerous precedent.

The determination to stand against separatism in Kosovo is the determination to be against violent division of any UN member state, the Serbian foreign minister observed.

He stressed that Serbia was willing to resolve any differences at the negotiating table.

Jeremić also said that the former Yugoslavia had been a member of the Non-Aligned Movement and had always had good relations with the underdeveloped states.

"The traditionally good relations between Serbia and the underdeveloped countries, along with the longstanding policy of solidarity and assistance, will be a strong basis for comprehensive cooperation for which we hope will deepen in the years to come," the Serbian foreign minister underlined.

Appeal on CoE

Vuk Jeremić also addressed a Council of Europe gathering in Istanbul to call on this institution to support Serbia's request for the UN to lead an investigation into human organ trafficking in Kosovo, so that the full truth about the crimes would be revealed.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution January 25 based on rapporteur Dick Marty's report on human organ trafficking in Kosovo, Jeremić pointed out, adding that the report had shocked the world.

He appealed to the members of the council to support the efforts to investigate those horrible crimes and to have it done under a UN mandate, the same way that it was done when it came to the war crimes in the Western Balkans. The same standard should be applied in the case of human organ trafficking as well, he stressed in his address to the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers.

A consistent approach to war crimes is not merely an international obligation, but also a part of the joint efforts to strengthen stability and peace in the Balkans, Jeremić stated.

Serbia generally feels that forums like this one should avoid a heated debate on Kosovo, because it could endanger the ongoing talks between Belgrade and Pristina, he remarked.

What is needed instead are projects that increase Council of Europe's visibility in Kosovo, he added.

The recent incident when the Serb Orthodox Church of the Lady of Ljeviš in Prizren was vandalized points to the critical role the Council of Europe could have in preserving Serbian heritage, the minister underlined.

Serbia is willing to take part in the politics of neighborly relations adopted by the council, which aims to improve dialogue and cooperation with the countries and regions that lie next to Europe, said Jeremić.

Serbia's engagement in the policy should be based on true cooperation with those countries and suited to particular situations in some of them, he stated, emphasizing that the important thing was for the Council of Europe to be seen as a form of friendly cooperation and assistance, instead of interference with those countries' internal affairs.