Interview of the Minister Nekibe Kelmendi given to BBC

 Officials of Kosovo institutions told the BBC that the visit of the envoys of the Council of Europe, Dick Marty in Pristina had not intended to investigate Serbian allegations of trafficking of Serbian organs by members of former KLA during the war in border area with Albania. 

Pristina, 20 January 2010 – Minister of Justice, Nekibe Kelmendi and director of the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Pristina, Arsim Gerxhaliu said that during meetings held with Mr Marty, he showed his interest on the work that is done to shed a light on the fate of missing persons . 

Visit of the Swiss Senator Dick Marty in Kosovo was conducted after the meeting held last year in Serbia and Albania, within the investigations of the Europe Council for the charges filed by the former Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, in her book "Hunting" for allegedly "crimes against Serb civilians by members of the former fighters in one of the villages of Burrel in Albania". 

The authorities in Pristina and Tirana have dismissed charges of war crimes in Kosovo-Albania border area, while Belgrade stressed to have evidence of several cases and insisted on further investigations. 

Investigators from the Hague Tribunal did not manage to witness the eventual war crimes allegations in this region. 

The official of the Europe Council, Dick Marty refused to speak for the purposes of his visit in Kosovo, however the Minister of Nekibe Kelmendi has told BBC that this issue was not discussed at all during the meeting. 

Violeta Hyseni Kelmendi talked with the minister Kelmendi. 

BBC: Mrs. Minister what was the topic you talked in the meeting with Mr. Marty? 

Nekibe Kelmendi: In fact he (Dick Marty) initially said 'I am not to investigate anything, I came just to talk about finding the best way to shed light on the fate of missing persons and to cooperate in this direction with all international institutions and with regional countries in order to have the satisfaction of families of missing persons'. 

This is all that we've talked and I have informed that we are working in this direction, the ministry has the Department of Forensic Medicine, the Office for Missing Persons, and we cooperate with all local organizations that are here, we are planning that in March to hold an international conference on missing persons. 

BBC: We know that Dick Marty is appointed by the Europe Council to investigate the Serbian allegations for the war crimes in Kosovo, namely in the border area with Albania. Was this mentioned during the meeting you had with him? 

Nekibe Kelmendi: With moral and material responsibility I stress that this issue has never been raised in our conversation, therefore his speech started ' I did not come for investigative purposes', neither the name was mentioned, he only said I did not come here for investigation or investigative purposes. 

BBC:  In fact, what is the role that the Europe Council can play? 

Nekibe Kelmendi: I do not know if his agenda or mandates have been changed. This I do not know, I believe those have appointed him are aware of this, but he did not discuss this issue with me. 

BBC: What did Mr. Marty promise, what are your expectations after his visit? 

Nekibe Kelmendi: To intensify the issue of missing persons and help in any aspect to shed light on the fate of the missing.