The statement of the prosecutor of the EU Special Investigation Team, Clint Williamson, on the findings of an investigation into the trafficking in human organs in Kosovo, although with the status “temporary announced until a special court for the crimes of the KLA will be established”, provides space for diplomatic and political action of official Belgrade in the fight for Kosovo, believe our diplomatic sources.
Opposition parties DSS (Democratic Party of Serbia) and DS (Democratic Party) share the same opinion, as well as a former member of the Assembly of Kosovo, Rada Trajkovic. The Government of Serbia unofficially stated that before initiating indictments, their “hands are tied”.
Top diplomatic sources estimate that Belgrade can address the UN General Assembly with a request to open a discussion about Williamson’s report, and request the revision of the opinion of the International Court of Justice. Our sources believe that the debate on this issue should not be conducted before the UN Security Council, in order to avoid blockade of some of the permanent members of the body. Government of Serbia was advised to request that the further investigation include Russian, Chinese, Indian, Brazilian, and other investigators, because the United States was involved in the war in Kosovo, at the side of Kosovo Albanians. The team of U.S. Attorney Williamson consist of experts from 18 member states of the EU, Canada and the United States.
“Our country needs to address the UN General Assembly and come up with the findings of Williamson’s reports. Although Williamson said his report will not affect the status of Kosovo, Serbia can tell the truth about the events in Kosovo. This should be done, especially if Pristina would have requests for UN. We should request the review of the opinion of the International Court of Justice, since it is obvious that they did not have this information,” explains Rada Trajkovic.
Despite the shortcomings and criticisms, she considered that the report of Clint Williamson is “a great day for the Serbian people and state, because many international institutions and leaders accepted Albanian revenge as a legitimate act.”
“The report speaks about the crimes against humanity, systematic ethnic cleansing of Serbs south of the Ibar River, the rapes committed by the KLA members against Serb and Roma women, organ trafficking as a crime for profit and Albanians which are killed because of different political beliefs on the status of Kosovo. This is the first time in the former Yugoslavia that the reason for murders is trafficking in organs in which the KLA took part because of the political and economic dominance in Kosovo. Although at the individual level is understandable that Families of missing and kidnapped persons are unhappy because personal justice was not reached, at a higher level, this report is good news,” says Rada Trajkovic.
Borislav Stefanovic, Vice president of the Democratic Party and a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, believes that Williamson’s report should be “diplomatically used, at least in that part that undermines the myth of “the epic KLA fight.” “It will not decrease the number of recognitions of Kosovo’s independence, because they are the product of “suggestions” of the great powers, and will not change the attitude of the states that support the independence of Kosovo, because they knew what was going on. But the world needs to know who is presented as the Balkan George Washington,” said Stefanovic.
According to the Vice president of the DSS and former minister for Kosovo, Slobodan Samardzic, Belgrade could now “freeze” the dialogue in Brussels and condition it with the safety of the Serbs from the arrests and with setting up a special court. “Although current Serbian authorities gave Kosovo, they still have some sort of negotiating tricks in their hands, but for some small items. There are more diplomatic moves, but they do not use them. Belgrade should request prosecuting someone from the Williamson’s report, because establishment of the special court may take time”, said Slobodan Samardzic.
The Serbian government unofficially stated that Belgrade legally can do nothing before the formation of a special court, except to, as so far, give the evidence and help in protecting witnesses. The Government of Serbia believe that announced establishment of the court will not be delayed, although Williamson already warned that this “situation is without precedent in international justice, where establishment of a special prosecutor’s office with full investigative powers and mandate to file indictments happened, while there is no the Court before which the indictment may be raised.”
“I’m sure that in the coming weeks we will take advantage of our diplomatic and consular network that operates in nearly 100 countries around the world, so that the whole world knows the truth. We have a great responsibility to inform the entire international community about Williamson’s report,” said Marko Djuric, head of the Government Office for Kosovo.
