Kosovo minister calls for speedy start to investigation

1 February 2011 | 18:08 | Source: FoNet

BELGRADE -- Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović says an investigation into the Kosovo organ trafficking allegations should start as soon as possible. Goran Bogdanović (FoNet, file) He also called for the forming of an independent commission in connection to the case. "It is very important to finally put an end to crimes that have been a public secret in Kosovo for the past 11 years," Bogdanović said on Tuesday. "We spoke about it, but the silence of the international community in that period of time, and a lack of activity by those who were tasked with uncovering crimes meant that nothing was being done on that issue," the minister stated. Bodganović appraised that "it is good these events have seen the light of day after 11 years in Dick Marty's report". He also noted that the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, "thus far failed to fulfill all its tasks", but added it was positive that there were announcements the mission would be "reinforced with specialized witness protection teams so that the investigation and uncovering of crimes could be done as soon as possible and in the best possible manner". CoE Rapporteur Dick Marty presented his report in December, while in January, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution based on the document, calling for an investigation to be launched. The report identifies members of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) as perpetrators of a series of grave crimes, including allegations of kidnapping and illegal imprisonment of Serb civilians in Kosovo, whose body parts were removed and sold in the black market.