UNMIK/PR/1287
PRISTINA - The Office on Missing Persons and Forensics (OMPF), in cooperation with the Serbian authorities, has arranged for the transfer of 44 mortal remains identified by DNA from Serbia proper to Kosovo today.
The transfer between the Serbian authorities and the OMPF will take place at Gate three (Merdare border crossing) in the OMPF transfer facility. A local forensic pathologist has travelled to Serbia proper to oversee arrangements in advance of the transfer.
The remains are from unspecified municipalities across Kosovo and relate to cases exhumed from Batajnica. Once verification procedures are complete, the remains will be transported to the Rahovec/Orahovac mortuary where forensic inspections will begin.
Teams consisting of OMPF Outreach and Identification Officers will visit the families affected by the transfer when forensic inspections are complete. The mortal remains will then be ready for release to the families.
The forensic inspections will begin tomorrow. Due to the time it takes to prepare the associated documentation, as well as delays caused by the festive season, families will not be informed before the week beginning on the 10th January 2005. Family members are always the first to be informed about the identification of their loved ones.