The Council of Europe today demanded a formal investigation into allegations of human rights abuses (including organ trafficking) by leading government politicians in Kosovo, as laid out in a report by rapporteur Dick Marty. The Greens have expressed concern about the allegations and called for a thorough investigation to be concluded without delay and for the COE to cooperate with the EU mission in Kosovo to this end. Green MEP Ulrike Lunacek, the European Parliament's draftsperson on Kosovo, said:

"The disturbing allegations about organ trafficking and other human rights abuses in Kosovo and the complicity of senior government politicians would have serious consequences for the political situation in Kosovo. For this reason it is essential to thoroughly investigate all the claims made in the Marty report and for this investigation to be concluded as soon as possible, and we welcome today's demand by the Council of Europe to this end.

"EULEX (the EU legal mission in Kosovo) must now also press ahead with a full inquiry. It is essential that this inquiry is properly resourced. Council of Europe rapporteur Marty must provide the inquiry with all information and evidence he has collected, while the implicated Kosovan and Albanian authorities must offer full cooperation to this inquiry. Victim testimonies will be crucial to ensuring an effective inquiry but witness protection provisions are currently deficient in Kosovo. In order to ensure an effective and thorough investigation, there is therefore a need to set out a comprehensive witness protection programme supported by EU member states and the US."
 
 
Richard More O'Ferrall,
Press and media officer,
Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament
Mobile: +32-477-443842 - Ph. +32-22841669 (Brussels); +33-388174042
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