FM: Take Kosovo organ case to higher level

The international community wants the investigation into organ trade taken to a higher level, said Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic. He added that Serbia "will not allow this thing to be swept under the rug and disappear." FM: Take Kosovo organ case to higher level Jeremic told daily Vecernje novosti, he said that Serbia's demand that the UN Security Council establish an independent body that would conduct an investigation into organ trafficking in Kosovo had a chance, since most UN member states advocated an urgent investigation into the allegations of Council of Europe (CoE) Rapporteur Dick Marty. "Most UN Security Council member states supported Serbia's demand at last week's session. The most vocal were Russia and China, along with Brazil, India, South Africa, Gabon and a few others. Some countries, unfortunately, still have reservations. Still, everyone agrees that an investigation is necessary, and consultations are ongoing. In any case, we will not allow this thing to be swept under the rug and disappear," said the foreign minister. He reminded that Marty's report claimed that many in the international community had been aware of the organ trafficking but did nothing. "This is a very alarming charge that also needs to be investigated. It is hard to imagine that would be possible without a strong UN mandate. EULEX obviously does not have jurisdiction outside Kosovo, which is necessary in this case. Also, Dick Marty explicitly questions EULEX's current capacity to protect witnesses," Jeremic said. "If all crimes committed in the territory of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have been investigated under a UN Security Council’s mandate so far, we cannot accept that the accusations of organ trafficking, where most of the victims were Serb, be treated any different. If they are, it would be hard to fight the impression that there are double standards in the implementation of international justice, and that there are people in whose best interest it is that the full truth not be discovered. I do not want to believe that is true," the minister added. Vuk Jeremic (Tanjug, file)

FM: Take Kosovo organ case to higher level

Jeremić told daily Večernje novosti, he said that Serbia's demand that the UN Security Council establish an independent body that would conduct an investigation into organ trafficking in Kosovo had a chance, since most UN member states advocated an urgent investigation into the allegations of Council of Europe (CoE) Rapporteur Dick Marty.

"Most UN Security Council member states supported Serbia's demand at last week's session. The most vocal were Russia and China, along with Brazil, India, South Africa, Gabon and a few others. Some countries, unfortunately, still have reservations. Still, everyone agrees that an investigation is necessary, and consultations are ongoing. In any case, we will not allow this thing to be swept under the rug and disappear," said the foreign minister.

He reminded that Marty's report claimed that many in the international community had been aware of the organ trafficking but did nothing.

"This is a very alarming charge that also needs to be investigated. It is hard to imagine that would be possible without a strong UN mandate. EULEX obviously does not have jurisdiction outside Kosovo, which is necessary in this case. Also, Dick Marty explicitly questions EULEX's current capacity to protect witnesses," Jeremić said.

"If all crimes committed in the territory of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have been investigated under a UN Security Council’s mandate so far, we cannot accept that the accusations of organ trafficking, where most of the victims were Serb, be treated any different. If they are, it would be hard to fight the impression that there are double standards in the implementation of international justice, and that there are people in whose best interest it is that the full truth not be discovered. I do not want to believe that is true," the minister added.