Russia seeks investigation into illegal trade of human organs

in Kosovo

United Nations, Feb 18 (Itar-Tass) Russia believes it isnecessary to carry out a thorough investigation intoallegations of illegal trading of human organs in Kosovo, aRussian offcial has said .

"It is the duty of the international community to carryout a thorough investigation," Russian Chief delegate to theUN, Vitaly Churkin said while speaking at an opening meetingof the UN Security Council, dealing with the situation inKosovo.

The report on inhuman treatment of people and illegaltrade in human organs in Kosovo was drafted by prominent Swisshuman rights activist and head of the monitoring committee ofthe Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)Dick Marty.

Using his two-year investigations, Marty proved thatKosovo gunmen killed captured Serbian POWs, cut out theirorgans and then sold them on "the black market".

Besides, the report says of direct complicity in thesecrimes of commanders of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army,including present premier of self-proclaimed republic HashimThaci. "We acclaim the adoption of a PACE resolution insupport of investigating facts, recorded in the document,"Churkin noted at the Security Council meeting.

The Russian diplomat backed a speech by Serbian ForeignMinister Vuk Yeremic at the meeting, where he called on theSecurity Council to sanction an investigation into facts,recorded in Marty''s report. Churkin voiced support for"setting up a special international investigationmechanism by a decision of the UN Security Council, whichwould be subordinate to the United Nations".

However, some other Security Council members did notsupport the proposal by the Serbian foreign minister duringthe discussion of the situation in Kosovo.

For instance deputy head of the US permanentrepresentative to the UN Rosemary DiCarlo said in her speechthat setting up of a UN commission on establishing facts isnot acceptable and necessary. The American diplomat was backedby British and German representatives on thispoint.(Itar-Tass)