"EULEX working with Marty to find best solutions"

EULEX prosecutors are working with CoE rapporteur Dick Marty to find the best way to move forward with the investigation into human organ trafficking in Kosovo. This is according to EULEX chief Xavier de Marnhac. "EULEX working with Marty to find best solutions" "There has been contact between EULEX and Marty and his team," Marnhac told Belgrade daily Politika ahead of his visit to Belgrade on Wednesday. He did not reveal any details, but said the two sides were working to find a way to move forward regarding the investigation. When asked to define the cooperation, since Marty does not want to give EULEX access to his evidence because the mission has no authority outside Kosovo and because he does not have confidence in EULEX's ability to protect witnesses, Marnhac stated that he understands the great interest from the public about the issue and organ trafficking allegations made in Marty's report. He also added it was vital to find out the truth, explaining that it would be in the interest of both the Serb and Albanian communities. Commenting on the EULEX investigation, which was started in January, Marnhac pointed out that EULEX is the best suited to run the inquiry, since it has highly trained international prosecutors, a proven witness protection unit and the determination to find answers. He was also asked about potential obstructions by the Pristina authorities, since EU High Representative Catherine Ashton had to ask Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci for more cooperation. The EULEX chief simply repeated what Ashton had told him during her visit, which is that all 27 countries of the EU are completely behind EULEX regarding its work in Kosovo. EULEX is trying to build and strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo, for everyone's sake, Marnhac emphasized. He said that his visit to Belgrade was part of his regular visits in the region, even though it comes during the talks between Belgrade and Pristina. The Marty report named leaders of the ethnic Albanian KLA as perpetrators of atrocities that included kidnappings of Serb civilians in the province and trade in their body parts in the black market. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) later based its resolution calling for an investigation on the report. While a number of western countries have said that the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, was capable of conducting that probe, Serbia is insisting that it should take place under the auspices of the United Nations.

"EULEX working with Marty to find best solutions"

"There has been contact between EULEX and Marty and his team," Marnhac told Belgrade daily Politika ahead of his visit to Belgrade on Wednesday. He did not reveal any details, but said the two sides were working to find a way to move forward regarding the investigation.

When asked to define the cooperation, since Marty does not want to give EULEX access to his evidence because the mission has no authority outside Kosovo and because he does not have confidence in EULEX's ability to protect witnesses, Marnhac stated that he understands the great interest from the public about the issue and organ trafficking allegations made in Marty's report. He also added it was vital to find out the truth, explaining that it would be in the interest of both the Serb and Albanian communities.

Commenting on the EULEX investigation, which was started in January, Marnhac pointed out that EULEX is the best suited to run the inquiry, since it has highly trained international prosecutors, a proven witness protection unit and the determination to find answers.

He was also asked about potential obstructions by the Priština authorities, since EU High Representative Catherine Ashton had to ask Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci for more cooperation. The EULEX chief simply repeated what Ashton had told him during her visit, which is that all 27 countries of the EU are completely behind EULEX regarding its work in Kosovo.

EULEX is trying to build and strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo, for everyone's sake, Marnhac emphasized.

He said that his visit to Belgrade was part of his regular visits in the region, even though it comes during the talks between Belgrade and Priština.

The Marty report named leaders of the ethnic Albanian KLA as perpetrators of atrocities that included kidnappings of Serb civilians in the province and trade in their body parts in the black market.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) later based its resolution calling for an investigation on the report.

While a number of western countries have said that the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, was capable of conducting that probe, Serbia is insisting that it should take place under the auspices of the United Nations.