UNMIK/PR/687
PRISTINA – UNMIK and the FRY authorities today signed three protocols that would enable further progress on the issue of identification of missing persons.
The protocols were signed following the meeting of the Joint Committee on Police Cooperation of the UNMIK/FRY High Ranking Group in Pristina today. Mr. Jean-Christian Cady, DSRSG for Police and Justice, on behalf of UNMIK and Major-General Svetislav Djurdjevic, of the Coordination Centre for Kosovo and Metohija, on behalf of the Governments of the Republic of Serbia and of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, were signatories to the Protocols.
The three protocols are:
Protocol on Cross-Boundary Repatriation of Identified Remains: This puts in place a mechanism for the return of identified human remains to members of the families of the deceased that will minimize administrative formalities.
Protocol on the Exchange of Forensic Experts and Expertise: This provides opportunities for both parties to exchange forensic information and expertise in order to facilitate the identification process. Serbs and Kosovo Albanian forensic experts will be involved in these activities.
Protocol on Joint Verification Teams on Hidden Prisons: Under this protocol joint verification activities will be conducted at the sites of alleged hidden prisons and the results will be reported so as to dispel rumors of hidden prisons and allay the fears of all communities regarding this issue.
Another protocol is under discussion that will provide for the participation of the International Committee for Missing Persons (ICMP) in joint technical review meetings to be held on a quarterly basis.
