Lead Prosecutor of the European Union Special Investigative Task Force (SITF) David Schwendiman welcomed the Kosovo assembly's adoption of constitutional amendments and the law paving the way for the setting up of the specialist court, as a step towards addressing the claims of war crimes committed by the KLA, and called for the establishment of specialist chambers and prosecutor's office as soon as possible. “The Kosovo Assembly adopted the Constitutional Amendments and the Law paving the way for the establishment of the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office.

The Lead Prosecutor of the European Union’s Special Investigative Task Force (SITF), David Schwendiman, said on Monday he was encouraged by the adoption of the legislation for the formation of the special court in Kosovo. “The Kosovo Assembly adopted the constitutional amendments and the law that makes way for the formation of the Specialist Chambers and the Office of the Specialist Prosecutor,” Schwendiman said in a media statement.

Witness protection remains an obstacle to the Kosovo judiciary, especially in cases of organized crime and war crimes, reports Radio Kosova. So far, according to the reports of international organizations, it is estimated that at least 12 protected witnesses of various judicial processes have been killed. Joao Sousa, Spokesperson for Special Investigative Task Force (SITF) told Radio Kosova that concrete steps were taken to prevent the influence on witnesses.

There is still no set date when the Assembly will convene to change the constitution to enable the establishment of a special court that will investigate allegations of war crimes and organ trafficking in Kosovo. According to the Minister of Justice, Hajredin Kuci, the Assembly session on the issue will depend on the successful conclusion of negotiations between the EU and the court’s host country, the Netherlands. The EU Special Investigative Task Force (SITF) spokesperson, Joao Sousa, did not wish to comment on Kuci’s statement.

BRUSSELS – The EU named a new prosecutor on Thursday to investigate possible crimes against humanity, including murder and organ trafficking, by several leaders of Kosovo’s 1990s guerrilla army, some of them now senior officials. Lawyer David Schwendiman succeeds fellow U.S.

A cloud of doubt surrounding the crimes in Kosovo will only be cleared after court proceedings are complete, says John Clint Williamson. The U.S. prosecutor headed an EU team that looked into the war crimes committed by the ethnic Albanian KLA against Serbs in Kosovo. Williamson spoke for Tanjug on Saturday, the last day of his term in office as the chief prosecutor for the EULEX Special Investigative Task Force (SITF).

The paper reports on page two that United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in his quarterly report on Kosovo, has called on Kosovo institutions to establish, by early 2015 at the latest, the Special Court that will handle allegations of war crimes committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army. In his report, Ban talks about the political situation in the country, with special emphasis on the northern part of Mitrovica following tensions after the construction of the Peace Park on Ibër/Ibar River.

The establishment of a special court for KLA crimes depends on the pace of the formation of new Kosovo government, which should sign an agreement on the establishment probably with the Netherlands, where will be located a part of the court. Decision on the establishment of the Court brought previous composition of the Kosovo Assembly in late April, and it is expected that the Court will start working in 2015. However, the organization, jurisdiction and the way of functioning are still in the sphere of assumptions.

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.