Pristina, Belgrade – EULEX Head of Information Service Miguel Carvalho de Faria categorically stated to Danas that “in Kosovo do not exist no secret lists and charges for the arrest,” and that “the press persistently publishes rumours and speculations that are completely baseless.”
“Throughout Kosovo are conducted legally authorized investigations, which included people of all ethnicities. In Kosovo law there is no provision of sealed indictments. When filed, the charge shall be communicated to the defendant and his lawyers in accordance with legal procedures,” says De Faria.
He declined to specify why the former and current presidents of Zubin Potok Slavisa Ristic and Stevan Vulović were invited to the hearing. “These calls do not constitute an arrest warrant. These were issued after the prosecutor carefully considered the evidence that is already contained within the file. At this stage the prosecutor has established that there is a need to examine the two persons of interest. This is a standard procedure that is used in any legal proceedings. No officials outside the structure of the rule of law is involved in the decision making process. Prosecutors decide independently, and independent judges, may adopt their request – to decide on the request for the imposition of detention measures or to refuse such requests,” says De Faria to Danas.
Regarding speculation that such calls should soon receive other Serbian politicians in northern Kosovo – Marko Jaksic, Milan Ivanovic, Dragisa Milović …, the EULEX head of the Information Service argues that “no calls of this nature are issued.” “Every time EULEX issues a call, regardless of whether it is about the north or south, comes to spreading rumours that target are all the people of a particular group – all Serbs, all politicians, all members of the KLA and the like. EULEX target are not groups – calls are issued because the prosecutor found that there is a need to examine a particular person of interest in connection with the case – emphasizes De Faria….
