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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Full, independent investigation into illegal trade in human organs necessary

Belgrade/Strasbourg, 26 January 2011

President Boris Tadic urged today in Strasbourg an immediate, full and independent investigation into the allegations presented in the Report of Special Rapporteur of the Council of Europe (CoE) Dick Marty on the inhuman treatment of people and illegal trade in human organs in Kosovo-Metohija.

Boris Tadic

Author: Fonet

Tadic, addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg, expressed gratitude to this institution for the adoption of the mentioned report thus making an important first step in discovering what really happened in the secret prisons of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), as well as for taking a status neutral approach to Kosovo-Metohija.

I support you to continue with this policy of avoiding debate on controversial issues, including potential application of Kosovo for membership of the CoE, said the Serbian President.

Recalling that the position of Serbia regarding Kosovo-Metohija is well-known that our country will not recognise the independence of its southern province, he said that our delegation for talks with Pristina has been ready for dialogue for months.

Dialogue is the only way for peace in Kosovo-Metohija, and the sooner the negotiations begin the sooner will we make a way forward to a historic reconciliation between Serbs and Albanians, Tadic said and appealed to all parties in this process to be constructive.

Speaking about Dick Marty’s report, he pointed out that it is imperative that the accusations for these terrible crimes not be swept under the carpet.

The Serbian President said that according to Marty's report, the KLA was involved in trafficking in drugs, arms and people since 1998, and that the major responsibility for the fate of hundreds of kidnapped Serbs and other non-Albanians bears the “Drenica Group”.

Commenting on the situation in Serbia and the region, he said that the 10th anniversary of the changes that took place on 5 October 2000 was observed in Serbia and that a lot has been done since then. That is why we look with optimism on next ten years.

Tadic indentified as major challenges for Serbia and the region in next ten years the fulfilment of EU standards so that Serbia and other countries of the region could become EU member as soon as possible, as well as the completion of the process of reconciliation in the region.

Our strategic goal is the EU accession and we hope that after we submit answers to the Questionnaire of the European Commission, we will continue towards the candidacy and beginning of accession negotiations, Tadic reiterated.

He highlighted that policy of reconciliation is also a priority because that is a strategic and moral imperative which is why Serbia will continue to fully cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

Tadic pointed to organised crime as greatest threat to peace, safety and progress in the region, noting that fighting organised crime requires strategic alliance of countries of the region.