Preparations began for the excavation of the field in Rudnica, suspected to be a mass grave of Kosovo Albanians went missing during the war. Works in Raska proof of Serbia’s commitment to shed light on the fate of missing persons, says a representative of Belgrade Veljko Odalović.
International team of experts began today in Rudnica near Raska preparation of the field for the search of remains of missing ethnic Albanians in Kosovo during the war in 1998 and 1999, which are assumed to be buried at the site, reports Beta.
At the meeting of the Working Group on Missing consisting of representatives of Belgrade and Pristina, and chaired by the International Committee of the Red Cross, was said it was likely that a mass grave contains the bodies of murdered Kosovo Albanians.
Chair of the working group and representatives of the Red Cross in Pristina Lina Milner told the Beta news agency after the meeting that in Rudnica were found the remains of victims, which indicate that there are at least six, and that it is impossible to speculate on the total number of buried until all the work is completed.
She added that demolition of the existing building is planned at the site, which was revealed in December 2013.
Lina Milner said that delegations from Pristina and Belgrade cooperate constructively and that both delegations are moving in the right direction.
Representative of Pristina Pajazit Nushi said that the conditions are made to continue work and the whole process probably will not be completed quickly.
Representative of Belgrade Veljko Odalović said that families will be able to visit the location when they want to.
“The observers will not be just observers but they will be direct actors on the location, because we expect that forensics, pathologists and other experts will be present and will do their job in the best way,” said Odalović.
Odalović pointed out that the work in Raska is proof of Serbia’s commitment to address sensitive issues so that families are better informed about the fate of the missing.
He recalled that at the site several times before was tried discovery of a mass grave and that the data was obtained at the end of October and after the initial research remains were found confirming that these bodies are of Kosovo Albanians.
It was decided after that to do the search to the end, Odalović said, adding that investigators working group will submit the results to all of the media and inform the public about the results.
