Serbia: Albanian families seek justice for the missing

Representatives of the Albanian families of missing persons from Kosovo, at a conference in Belgrade where representatives of Serbian institutions were also present, demanded from Serbia full and concrete answers about the fate of the missing.

"We demand that the agreements signed between the two countries be implemented in practice. Families do not need political statements, but accurate information. From Serbia we demand full transparency, the submission of all data and the involvement of Kosovo experts in all stages of the search for locations. Any delay reduces the hope and dignity of the families," said Gjyle Haziri from the Missing Persons Resource Center.

Representatives of Albanian and Serbian families from Kosovo, sitting together at a conference on the eve of December 10, Human Rights Day, called for the acceleration of the search process, improved institutional cooperation and the acceleration of works at all possible locations of mass graves, RTK writes.

"Families demand the truth and punishment of those responsible. This is our right. The issue of missing persons is first and foremost a humanitarian and civilizational issue, not a political one," said Natasa Shqepanovic from the Association of Families of Missing Serbs from Kosovo.

The Serbian Government's Commission on Missing Persons announced that, at the request of the Kosovo side, searches are being conducted at several possible locations of mass graves. It was said that the issue has been raised at the highest level of dialogue in Brussels, but the process has stalled.

"It is important that the process resumes and politics is removed from it. Our task is to exert pressure on institutions and stand by the families. This is not about statistics, until the last person is found, the work is not finished," said Mërgim Memović from the Missing Persons Resource Center.

At this conference, it was emphasized that 1.580 missing persons are still being sought. The families underlined that they will not give up on their demand for the process to be accelerated and that without resolving the issue of the missing, there can be no sustainable dialogue or true reconciliation.