War crimes remain an object of investigation even 17 years after the liberation of Kosovo. War crimes cases were previously under the UNMIK competencies and were later transferred as part of EULEX executive powers. But the EU rule of law mission since 2008 has not managed to solve 213 cases of this nature and is currently addressing 40 of them.
Not being a full-fledged member of Interpol and not having contractual relations with Europol, Kosovo is still not able to issue international arrest warrants for war crimes suspects. If the prosecution finds sufficient evidence about war crimes committed by Serb forces, UNMIK – responsible for Interpol’s office in Kosovo – will enable issuing arrest warrants.
Shpend Berbatovci, UNMIK public information officer told Tribuna Channel through e-mail that UNMIK is ready to assist Kosovo authorities in accordance with its mandate. According to Berbatovci, UNMIK remains committed to the prosecution of crimes committed in the territory of Kosovo: “UNMIK receives requests for the issuance of international wanted notices against persons who are believed to be located outside of Kosovo but who are wanted by Kosovo judicial authorities for prosecution or to serve a prison sentence following conviction”.
Days ago, the mission was asked for support by the Kosovo’s chief state prosecutor, Aleksander Lumezi. “We will cooperate with UNMIK for issuing international arrest warrants for the people whom we have on our records and whose identity is known,” Lumezi said. Bearing in mind that a sizeable amount of evidence is located outside Kosovo, Lumezi also sought cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for transfer of evidence to Kosovo.
