Albanians block EU organ harvest probe
The European Union (EU)’s efforts to probe the Serb allegations that Serb civilians had been kidnapped in Kosovo in 1999, taken to Albania and had organs removed ran into obstacles in Albania where angry local people blocked the investigation, local media reported Tuesday.
A family in northern Albania on Monday refused to meet the Council of Europe team to investigate the Serb allegations that their house had been used as a makeshift clinic to harvest organs from Serbs abducted during the 1999 conflict between the Serbs and ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.
The family from the village of Rripe in the northern Mat region said that they had never harmed anyone and that their reputation had been tarnished by the allegations.
Television footage from the village of Rripe showed angry villagers blocking the visitors in a standoff.
Previously, UN investigators searched the family’s house in 2004 for evidence of organ harvesting. They found blood stains, gauze and syringes, which the family claimed were left-over from a family birth. The case was then dropped for lack of evidence.
The allegations resurfaced last year when Carla Del Ponte, the former chief United Nations prosecutor for war crimes in former Yugoslavia, claimed that in the closing days of the Kosovo conflict, hundreds of civilians were reportedly kidnapped by Kosovo Liberation Army guerrillas and transported to neighboring Albania.
In his book, “The Hunt: Me and the War Criminals,” Ponte said that dozens of Serb civilians were killed and their organs harvested to be sold abroad. The victims included Serbs, Russians, and at least one Albanian.
The Albanians have vehemently denied the claims. Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha last year denounced the allegations as “fabrications and absurdities ,” saying they were intended to smear the image of Kosovo and Albania.
August 11, 2009
Xinhua
This makes me so mad!
Me too, and we are so powerless…
Frankly how can you smear the image of Kosovo and Albanians any worse than it already is?
they have to start turning some rocks over in Albania and see what kind of vermin creeps out,When the KLA were murdering people in Kosovo and their NATO pals were helping them,the mistake the Serbs made was not taking the war to Albania and destroying the vipers nest.
Two comments. First, if the Albanians have nothing to hide, why blocked the EU form doing its job. Second, I think that Nato tried to stop in Kosovo what had happened in Bosnia. Calling NATO soldiers pals of the KLA is an absurdity. Such comments don’t help the Serb cause.
all this is a big song-and-dance so NATO can get out of there claiming victory while hoping Serbia will give up on Kosovo. If Belgrade gives enough reasons for NATO to pull out, which means no attacking the Muslim Shiptars, then NATO pulls out and Shiptars lose their leverage on what their claim is.
Their claim is based on ethnic cleansing, this organ trade and international lawlessness.
That suits Washington fine because they want to “teach” Serbia a lesson… ask Russia and China if this is not a precedent. Anyway…
Shiptars need to recall how easily Shiates in Iraq got dumped by Washington!
Daniel are you for real or just saying stupid things for kicks?
NATO is in bed with KLA and always has been. Who do you think helped them take Kosovo away? Do you honestly believe that KLA alone could’ve done that? If the object was not to take Kosovo away for themselves (NATO having full control) then why let it happen?
Bombing of Yugoslavia was because Milosevic refused NATO to have access over ALL Serbia not just Kosovo. Maybe you should read from more credible sources.
If Kosovo is independant today, it’s because of Milosevic policies. Taking away the albanian majority’s rights between 1990 and 1999 was a very bad solution to cope with the KLA. He gave them carte blanche to do what they wanted, and he answered to their violence with even more violence. We possibly don’t have the same analysis, but we can discuss this like adults instead of throwing insults.
Nato tried to stop what had happened in Bosnia,no Daniel what happened in Bosnia did happen in Kosovo Nato armed and directed a bunch of Fascists the croats and muslims in Bosnia and the KLA in Kosovo.
Peggy is right NATO wanted to occupy all of serbia Milosevic resisted.
NATO bombed Serbia because Milosevic refused to remove the 60 000 soldiers who were terrorizing the people all across Kosovo. Civilians were killed and carried to Serbia to erase all facts. Read what happened in Cuska, Pavjlan and Zahac in May 1999: almost 100 Albanians were killed. Milosevic behaved in such a way that the international community did not have other choice but bomb him in order to stop him. Don’t forget that over 30 000 civilians had been killed in Bosnia bertween 1992 and 1995. He had to be stopped. What is you proposition? Watch and let him do?
Dony, I respect your point of view but it does not reflect what happened. It’s your interpertration of the events and unfortunately for all Serbs, Milosevic was possibly the worst leader for Serbia at that moment. What interested him was POWER, and he did everything to remain in power, even launching a criminal enterprise of racial purification in territories where Croats and Bosniaks were living. That’s what we’re already reading in history book.
Daniel.
I thought you had seen the light but i don’t think you ever will.
Let us get this right the american 4th Reich want to rule the world they made their move when a drunken clown was ruling Russia and NATO is their instrument they broke international law, you say they had to bomb Milosevic,well they bombed everyone and everything but Milosevic that is what they do they have been doing it for decades they killed millions in south east asia but in your eyes they can do no wrong
Calling the USA the 4th Reich! lol! In 1930, nobody was there to stop Hitler and Europe watched as a mad dictator was exterminating a people. This time, Europe warned Milosevic and he did not listen. After ultimatums, NATO attacked and bombed Serbia. Innocent died, accoding to Milosevic’s plan, and Russia did not intervene because Yeltin agreed with the USA that Milosevic had to be stopped. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST the world (other nations) should have done?
Daniel,
Youre absolutely incorrect with your statemement “NATO bombed Serbia because Milosevic refused to remove the 60 000 soldiers who were terrorizing the people all across Kosovo.”
Not true at all… the fact is that during 1998, albanians have been terrorizing Civilian Serbs and Serbian police in Kosovo attacking, bombing and murdering them. This is well documented.
The Rambouillet Agreement was for the most part completely acceptable to Milosevic who agreed to ALL provisions except for one: And that is “the unhindered right of passage for NATO troops on the entire Yugoslav territory”.
ANY leader would have refused that clause as it is basically allowing NATO full occupation of a sovereign country! Milosevic did agree to pull out its troops PRIOR to the bombing. NATO ended up bombing the ENTIRE Yugoslav(SERBIAN) country and in the end, the final agreement was exactly the same as Milosevic was ready to agree to in the beginning. It was NATO arrogance in pushing for complete occupation that caused the war.
In the end, NATO DID NOT achieve its objectives as is evident to anyone who has read the Rambouillet Agreement in full.
Now, NATO is spitting on its own part of the UN 1244 agreement by recognizing Kosovo as an independent nation which is a clear violation of international law and a violation of an agreement it helped draft!
Prior to the war, outlandish claims were made of 200k albanians killed, than it was reduced to 100K and now they cant even find 10K bodies ALL SIDES combined. For people to this day, to still justify NATO action in Kosovo is ridiculous. It is an insult to every other part of the world where REAL atrocities are occuring yet neither America nor NATO seem to think any of them are worth intervening.
The fact is that Kosovo was simply a strategic move on America’s part. As long as it has an interest in the area, it will side with the devil if it has to. Once that interest is exhausted, the Albanians too will be abandoned like so many before them.
Kosovo je Srpska
CCCC
Daniel sounds just like our “friend” Ian
Ignorate and stupid!
Daniel, you shuld checkout ‘emporers new clothes blog’!! Might help you discover some truth.
He knows the truth, but is a Albo lover!
If Daniel really wanted to know the truth he would check out what credible people like General Lewis Mackenzie said about the events. He was there, Daniel wasn’t. John Pilger, Gregory Clark, James Bissett, Scott Taylor and Noam Chomsky are just a few people who fiercely oppose the mainstream media in US, UK and the like.
Daneil is satisfied with the propaganda crap he was served and will never allow himself to check out anything written by these people on the subject.
Daniel doesn’t want to know that for decades Albanians were terrorizing Serbs in Kosovo waiting for the time Serbia will send in soldiers to calm the down.
We should just ignore the ignorant like Daniel.
Borba.
You said it all my friend.
Unfortunately, when we don’t share your analysis, we’re ignorant! Quite sad. Your attitude does not help at all! I understand why Serbs are profoundly disliked in the Balkans.
«… the fact is that during 1998, albanians have been terrorizing Civilian Serbs and Serbian police in Kosovo attacking, bombing and murdering them. This is well documented. »
I know. Then explain why Milosevic turned against the civilians instead of dealing with the attackers and murderers?? This is also well documented and it is because of this situation that NATO intervened. To stop Milosevic. Are you not happy that Milo was neutralized?
Daniel, I’ve only read your last few points. In these you refer to analysis by others but with respect to the various civil wars in former Yugoslavia you seem very selective with your facts. Prove my assumption wrong by providing your facts on the 400K ethnically cleansed Krajina Serbs by the Croats (supported by Nato)? For the war in central Bosnia, the atrocities committed by the Muslims and Croats on each other and the continual bombardment of the Muslim part of Mostar by the Croats? Oh, the hundreds of thousands of Serb and Roma refugees that are sheltering in Serbia, the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo Serbs and Roma past and presently and organ trafficking by the KLA terrorists?
Daniel.
I would be interested to know the country you are from,it could explain a few things.
«Daniel doesn’t want to know that for decades Albanians were terrorizing Serbs in Kosovo waiting for the time Serbia will send in soldiers to calm the down»
Of course I know but it does not validate Milosevic,s anser to the problem. You don’t kill a fly with a gun.
Dony, where I am from has no implication with the way Milosevic addressed the problem in Kosovo. How can you explain that troops killed over 100 civilians in one day, in May 1999? How can you explain that the same troops killed 30 000 civilians in Bosnia between 1992 and 1995? If you can explain this, I could possibly understand things … as you say.
Daniel, give it up. How do you explain all those civilians killed in Iraq. I guess that is fine with you.
It’s a horrible thing. Civilians getting killed is bad but in a civil war civilians get killed. That’s a fact. It happens in every war.
Do you also feel bad for Serbian civilians as well or is it only the Albanians? How about all the civilians killed BEFORE Milosevic went there because the Albanians were usuing terror for provocation? Who was going to help them and the civilians who are getting killed now in Kosovo? Who is going to protect the final resting place of the dead. Cemetaries are being destroyed.
Get a little angry at that.
War is hell for all. WW1 more soldiers got killed, WW2 more civilians got killed. In every war everywhere civilians get killed, undoftunately and Albanians were NOT the only civilians who were killed. Albanians have used their civilians as HUMAN SHIELDS.
DID YOU KNOW THAT?
Daniel.
Thank’s i think you have answered my question.
Daniel, explain to us who killed all those Serbian civilians and why.
You don’t mention the Serbs. Is it because they are Serbs and deserve to be killed?
I know you will say that you do sympathise, but why don’t you say it before someone pushes you? You only ever defend the Muslims for some reason and it’s only when I ask you questions you say that you also feel for the Serbs or don’t only condemn the Serbs like in a previous post.
Why don’t you acknowledge that Serbs had as many refugees and casualties. Oh, that’s right. You don’t think so, because CNN has not said it.
Peggy and Dony, be sure that I feel sorry for all the Serb civilians killed during the war, especially the 1000s killed around Srebrenica by Oric’s troops, and those from the Medak Pocket by Gotovina’s troops if I remember well, and also the 200 000 from the Krajina cleansed by the Croats. I have no problem with that. I feel sorry also for all the Iraqis killed by the American soldiers. I have no problem. My comment has to do with Milosevic, not with the Serbs, who sent troops to Kosovo to stop the KLA giving them carte blanche to do whatever.. as long as there were no proofs. And you know just like me that trucks full of civilians were conveyed to Serbia to hide the events. In conclusion, I repeat that Milosevic and Karadzic and the ones who tarnished the image of all Serbs because of exactions and atrocities that shocked the conscience of the world. Saying this, I know that the Serbs also suffered because of Milosevic’s policies. That’s all I am saying. And I am trying also to be objective. Civilians in Bosnia and Kosovo were deliberately targeted by the troops, paramilitaries, militias. More than 30 000 civilians were massacred in Bosnia? Can you tell me how many Serb civilians died in Bosnia compared to the number of Bosniaks? And I did not get these figures from CNN, nor the serbian propaganda!
Can you tell me how many Serbs died in Bosnia?well if you had been watching the western news such as the BBC etc… for the past fifteen or so years you could be forgiven for thinking no Serbs have been killed such is their one sided reporting.
Can you tell me how many Serbs died in Bosnia?well if one had been watching the BBC and the other western news for the past fifteen or so years one could be forgiven for thinking no serbs had died such is the one sided reporting from these people.