Albania and EULEX to Sign Organ Probe Deal

According to a statement, Prime Minister Berisha "agreed fully on the need to sign an agreement or pass legislation to institutionalize cooperation between the two authorities in order to create a clear legal framework that would help EULEX fulfill its mandate for the investigation".

Berisha's comments followed a meeting with John Clint Williamson, the prosecutor leading the investigation into allegations that the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, harvested organs of Serb prisoners during the Kosovo war.  

Williamson, who leads the seven-member Special Investigative Task Force of the EU mission, EULEX, met on Thursday with Berisha and Albanian Foreign Minister Edmond Haxhinasto.   

Dick Marty, the human rights rapporteur at the Council of Europe, released a report in December 2010 linking former KLA fighters, including Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, to organised crime and accused them of harvesting the organs of Serb prisoners and others in Albania.

Kosovo and Albanian authorities have denied the allegations and have agreed to participate in the international investigation into the claims.

Brussels-based Williamson met in October with government officials in Kosovo and Serbia.