Prosecution reacts to EULEX chief statement

The Serbian War Crimes Prosecution says it welcomes the EULEX chief's announcement that allegations about human organS trade "will be examined" The prosecution believes that hundreds of Kosovo Serb civilians were kidnapped in the province in 1999, taken to northern Albania by ethnic Albanians, and had their vital organs removed. Prosecution reacts to EULEX chief statement Yesterday, Yves de Kermabon, who heads the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, expressed "readiness to find out the truth about the claims of former Hague Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte". Some of the allegations first publicly surfaced in Del Ponte's book last year. In Belgrade, prosecution spokesman Bruno Vekaric told B92 that this is "an encouraging statement coming precisely from the two sides that are most called for to start investigations in the territories under their jurisdiction". He believes that this position came about "among other things, thanks to Serbia's activity to gain support from the international community for the organ trade investigation". "I think this was contributed to by the fact that that the EU and all officials that we very often meet completely trust the War Crimes Prosecution. The material that we bilaterally showed to many European officials and also to the media has led to the BBC producing the report that they did, and to domestic and foreign media to cover the story with great interest." Vekaric said that his office is "ready to help EULEX, and colleagues from Albania, regardless of the previous negative answers". The Albanian side did not wish to cooperate in the investigation into the illegal organ removal from prisoners in the north of that country. "In any case, the Albanians and EULEX have sufficient material to start a serious investigation, and we will help in every way and of course I expect great support from international subjects. As you know, there's Dick Marty too, who has been given the tasked to solve this case in a way on behalf of the Council of Europe," concluded Vekaric.

Prosecution reacts to EULEX chief statement

Yesterday, Yves de Kermabon, who heads the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, expressed "readiness to find out the truth about the claims of former Hague Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte".

Some of the allegations first publicly surfaced in Del Ponte's book last year.

In Belgrade, prosecution spokesman Bruno Vekarić told B92 that this is "an encouraging statement coming precisely from the two sides that are most called for to start investigations in the territories under their jurisdiction".

He believes that this position came about "among other things, thanks to Serbia's activity to gain support from the international community for the organ trade investigation".

"I think this was contributed to by the fact that that the EU and all officials that we very often meet completely trust the War Crimes Prosecution. The material that we bilaterally showed to many European officials and also to the media has led to the BBC producing the report that they did, and to domestic and foreign media to cover the story with great interest."

Vekarić said that his office is "ready to help EULEX, and colleagues from Albania, regardless of the previous negative answers". The Albanian side did not wish to cooperate in the investigation into the illegal organ removal from prisoners in the north of that country.

"In any case, the Albanians and EULEX have sufficient material to start a serious investigation, and we will help in every way and of course I expect great support from international subjects. As you know, there's Dick Marty too, who has been given the tasked to solve this case in a way on behalf of the Council of Europe," concluded Vekarić.