PACE committee to discuss Kosovo organ trade

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will look into the allegations of trafficking in human organs in Kosovo. This was confirmed today by Zeljko Ivanji, a member of the Serbian Parliamentary delegation. PACE committee to discuss Kosovo organ trade "The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights will hold a session on Wednesday on the subject of inhuman treatment of people and illegal trade in human organs in Kosovo,” Ivanji told Beta news agency in a telephone statement from Strasbourg, where a regular fall session of the PACE began today. Ivanji said that it was very important that the PACE would “deal with such an important issue,” and added that it would be a “chance to point out to the facts connected to the trafficking of human organs and the missing persons in Kosovo and Metohija,” after the allegations found in a book written by the former Chief Hague Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte. Serbs, but also other non-Albanians have allegedly been taken to Albania after the 1999 war, to have their organs removed there – a criminal operation overseen by the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA. In a news conference held before the beginning of the session, Speaker Lluis Maria de Puig said that the Council of Europe did not start an investigation into the allegations in the Del Ponte book, but he added that illegal trade in human organs in Kosovo "might appear as a topic” at this week’s session. De Puig reminded that during spring session “Carla del Ponte’s book caused a lot of noise” in Strasbourg, and added that her allegations were "contradictory with many asking why she didn’t react sooner.” This PACE session will last until June 27. Apart from Zeljko Ivanji, the Serbian delegation includes, Tomislav Nikolic, Dragan Todorovic, Natasa Jovanovic, Elvira Kovac, Danka Banovic and Milos Aligrudic. Meanwhile, Tanjug has reported Aligrudic as saying on Monday that the committee could also appoint a rapporteur, which he said is the most important subject for Serbia. In a statement for the news agency, Aligrudic specified that "it is believed the victims of trafficking in human organs are predominantly persons of Serb nationality who went missing in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija". Two to three weeks ago, the PACE Bureau decided to forward this issue to the Committee for Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Aligrudic said. He pointed out that "Wednesday is the key day" for Serbia, because the committee "could decide not to deal with this." "Should it decide to keep this on the agenda, then the committee will appoint a rapporteur," Aligrudic said. The Serbian parliamentarian said he expects "the majority of the deputies taking part in the work of the committee to insist on such an important question, which pertains to what is the essential activity of the Council of Europe, staying on the agenda."

PACE committee to discuss Kosovo organ trade

"The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights will hold a session on Wednesday on the subject of inhuman treatment of people and illegal trade in human organs in Kosovo,” Ivanji told Beta news agency in a telephone statement from Strasbourg, where a regular fall session of the PACE began today.

Ivanji said that it was very important that the PACE would “deal with such an important issue,” and added that it would be a “chance to point out to the facts connected to the trafficking of human organs and the missing persons in Kosovo and Metohija,” after the allegations found in a book written by the former Chief Hague Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte.

Serbs, but also other non-Albanians have allegedly been taken to Albania after the 1999 war, to have their organs removed there – a criminal operation overseen by the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA.

In a news conference held before the beginning of the session, Speaker Lluis Maria de Puig said that the Council of Europe did not start an investigation into the allegations in the Del Ponte book, but he added that illegal trade in human organs in Kosovo "might appear as a topic” at this week’s session.

De Puig reminded that during spring session “Carla del Ponte’s book caused a lot of noise” in Strasbourg, and added that her allegations were "contradictory with many asking why she didn’t react sooner.”

This PACE session will last until June 27. Apart from Željko Ivanji, the Serbian delegation includes, Tomislav Nikolić, Dragan Todorović, Nataša Jovanović, Elvira Kovač, Danka Banović and Miloš Aligrudić.

Meanwhile, Tanjug has reported Aligrudić as saying on Monday that the committee could also appoint a rapporteur, which he said is the most important subject for Serbia.

In a statement for the news agency, Aligrudić specified that "it is believed the victims of trafficking in human organs are predominantly persons of Serb nationality who went missing in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija".

Two to three weeks ago, the PACE Bureau decided to forward this issue to the Committee for Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Aligrudić said. He pointed out that "Wednesday is the key day" for Serbia, because the committee "could decide not to deal with this."

"Should it decide to keep this on the agenda, then the committee will appoint a rapporteur," Aligrudić said.

The Serbian parliamentarian said he expects "the majority of the deputies taking part in the work of the committee to insist on such an important question, which pertains to what is the essential activity of the Council of Europe, staying on the agenda."