UN Expected to Debate Kosovo, Organ Trade

Serbia's initiative for an independent investigation under a UN mandate into alleged organ trafficking in the province is also expected to be discussed.

The session will be attended by Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic and the head of the UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, Lamberto Zannier.

Serbia's proposal has not been formally included on the agenda for the session, but Jeremic said earlier that he would start a discussion on Serbia's initiative, which has since received support from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Ban expressed his "support to a thorough, unbiased and independent investigation into these serious allegations", in a letter to the chairman of the Security Council on Tuesday adding: "The UN will offer its full support to such a probe in case it takes place."

The UN Secretary-General forwarded Serbia's proposal for an investigation to the Security Council member countries this week. In the initiative, Belgrade asks the UN that the body start an investigation into the allegations made in the December report of Council of Europe Rapporteur Dick Marty.

Marty released a damning report alleging that a criminal network linked to Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci summarily executed prisoners and harvested their kidneys to sell for illicit organ transplants after the conflict in Kosovo.

Officials in Kosovo and Albania have firmly denied the allegations, but have agreed to cooperate with a probe into the claim.

In the latest quarterly report on Kosovo, Ban Ki-moon said that an unbiased and independent investigation is needed into the organ trafficking allegations, with a strong witness protection programme and full cooperation from all sides.

Serbia's proposal is now an official Security Council document, so tomorrow's session will effectively mark the start of debate on the initiative, even though it is not officially on the agenda, the head of Serbia's Mission to the UN Feodor Starcevic said.

The topic was already discussed in the Security Council in February, when Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic announced the initiative. At that session, four members of the Council said that the investigation into organ trafficking could be handled by the EU rule of law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, alone.

Serbia does not expect a final decision to be made at Thursday's session.

The session will also be attended by Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hodzaj, it has been announced. Kosovo representatives usually attend these sessions as private individuals, at the invitation of one of the member countries, and in line with Article 39 of the UNSC Rules of Procedure, said reports.