Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has called on the United Nations to conduct an international investigation into allegations that Kosovo's prime minister and his associates were connected to organ trafficking in 1999-2000.
Jeremic addressed the UN Security Council on February 16, saying, "It is the position of the Republic of Serbia that a solution lies in establishing an ad hoc investigating mechanism created by and accountable to the Security Council."
"This has been the case in all previous instances involving war crimes in the Balkans, whichever side the perpetrators belong to and irrespective of their political role" Jeremic added. "It is only through the action of the Security Council that we can prevent the onset of the perception of double standards in the administration of international justice."
A report by Dick Marty, the Council of Europe's special rapporteur on human rights, linked former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, including current Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, to abductions, disappearances, executions, organ trafficking, and other serious crimes.
Part of the report claims a group linked to Thaci killed Serbian prisoners in camps in Albania and extracted organs to sell on the international black market.
U.S. envoy Rosemary DiCarlo said the current enquiry by the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULUX) was sufficient and there was no need for the Security Council to take up the issue.
Kosovo's acting foreign minister, Vlora Citaku, dismissed Marty's report and said it "harmed" Kosovo's international reputation.
compiled from agency reports
Jeremic addressed the UN Security Council on February 16, saying, "It is the position of the Republic of Serbia that a solution lies in establishing an ad hoc investigating mechanism created by and accountable to the Security Council."
"This has been the case in all previous instances involving war crimes in the Balkans, whichever side the perpetrators belong to and irrespective of their political role" Jeremic added. "It is only through the action of the Security Council that we can prevent the onset of the perception of double standards in the administration of international justice."
A report by Dick Marty, the Council of Europe's special rapporteur on human rights, linked former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, including current Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, to abductions, disappearances, executions, organ trafficking, and other serious crimes.
Part of the report claims a group linked to Thaci killed Serbian prisoners in camps in Albania and extracted organs to sell on the international black market.
U.S. envoy Rosemary DiCarlo said the current enquiry by the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULUX) was sufficient and there was no need for the Security Council to take up the issue.
Kosovo's acting foreign minister, Vlora Citaku, dismissed Marty's report and said it "harmed" Kosovo's international reputation.
compiled from agency reports