Serbia called on Wednesday on the United Nations Security Council to set up an international inquiry into charges that rebels in Kosovo, including Kosovo prime minister Hashim Thaqi were behind organ trafficking and other crimes during and in the aftermath of the war for Kosovo's independence a decade ago.
A report by Dick Marty, rapporteur of the Council of Europe human rights watchdog, accused Thaci of abductions in Kosovo, gun- and drug-running and trafficking in organs from ethnic Serbs in 1999-2000.
The report was adopted by the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly last month. Thachi rejected the report.
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told the Security Council on Wednesday a full and independent criminal investigation was needed. He said that while EULEX could contribute to the inquiry, it could not lead it because the allegations extended to activities elsewhere in Europe, in Asia and in Africa.
Kosovo Deputy Foreign Minister Vlora Citaku, in a speech to the council, said the Kosovo government resolutely refuted claims and accusations accusing Marty's report of "failing to provide any proof whatsoever" of its charges. She said she advocated an independent international inquiry into the charges as soon as possible.
Serbian Minister Jeremic also criticised the slow process of the return of Serb to Kosovo and voiced his concern over Pristina's attempt to have the northern part of Kosovo, mostly populated by Serbs, be governed by Kosovo Albanians.
The head of the U.N. Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Lamberto Zannier, said that that the past three months in Kosovo have been unstable and that local and international observers pointed to many irregularities at the recent parliamentary election.
He added that Marty's report needed to be taken seriously and that UNMIK would fully support EULEX's investigation.
