"Contempt of court" urged over organ trafficking

They would be launched "against all those who interfered with the investigation into the illegal human organs trafficking in Kosovo".

Ljajic said he will on Monday request that proceedings be launched against former heads of UNMIK, including Chief Soren Jessen-Petersen "and several other persons who interfered with the investigation because the policy of the international community in Kosovo at the time put stability before justice".

"They knew about all these charges and suspicions, but they did nothing to prosecute or examine them. On the contrary, they did all they could to cover up the whole thing and to prevent witnesses from participating and testifying about the crimes committed at the time," Ljajic said.

Special Political Adviser to the Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Frederick Swinnen meanwhile told that this office is "monitoring Belgrade's moves, but will not voice its stand until it receives the request to launch the proceedings which the Serbian authorities announced".

Ljajic added that during his visit to Strasbourg on Monday, he will confer with top officials of the Council of Europe (CE) over the report on illegal human organs trafficking in Kosovo, which was submitted by CE Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Special Rapporteur Dick Marty.

"We require all suspicions in relation to serious charges (which were made public in the report) to be examined and we want the international community, which has substantial authority in Kosovo, to take over the responsibility for it," Ljajic noted and added that EULEX should examine and prosecute all charges that refer to Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.

"The Hague no longer has the authority to join in on the activities regarding the case, since the process of issuing new indictments has been completed," Ljajic said. However, he noted, "the Hague has enough reasons to launch contempt of court proceedings against all those who obstructed the investigation".

The Ministry of Justice also reacted in Belgrade this afternoon, to say that "Serbia has been saying for a long time that Hashim Thaci is one of the most responsible parties for the organ trade in Kosovo and northern Albania, and that the case also concerns organized crime, beside war crimes".

State Secretary Slobodan Homen said he was "glad that the (Marty) report happened", and that there is evidence necessary for criminal proceedings to be launched.

"On the other hand, this is about political relations and without a clear message and influence from the international community, it is not likely that Thaci will face trial," said Homen.

Marty responds

And while Belgrade expects "all crimes to be investigated and perpetrators put on trial", Priština is announcing they plan to file a lawsuit against Dick Marty, who "damaged the reputation" of Hashim Thaci.

The Swiss for his part today told the media that he expects his report to help clarify the events that took place in Kosovo in 1999 and 2000, and encourage witnesses to come forward.

"When the CoE asked for this report, I wasn't too happy, but I produced it as diligently as I could. Now it is up to the appropriate authorities to shed the light," he told a Swiss daily.

As for Thaci's threats that he would sue him, Marty said he faced a similar situation when in 2007 he published his report on illegal CIA-run prisons, but that now "nobody denies that those prisons existed".

"Mr. Thaci is free to do as he wishes," Marty said.

He also noted that human organs trade is a "phenomenon that transcends Kosovo", and that this "tragedy" has produced more victims than terrorism.

Marty added that he was in possession of more information on who received the organs taken from victims in 1999, and about the countries involved, but that he could not provide more details at this time due to the ongoing Medicus Clinic trial in Pristina.

"I am convinced that those are some of the same persons who collaborated in the 1999-2000 trade. However, I do not wish to be accused of influencing that trial," the CoE investigator said.

Asked why so many years had to pass for the facts to come to light, Marty replied that "most countries knew the facts".

"Numerous intelligence reports - German, British, Italian, Greek, and from the FBI - were sent to various foreign ministries, concerning the Thaci gang criminal activities. But they chose political opportunism. What is new today, is that someone has published those reports."

Marty concluded by saying: "I think the international community must learn who the KLA leaders were."