BRUSSELS, Belgium — The inaugural meeting of the Joint Commission on Missing Persons between Kosovo and Serbia will be held today in Brussels, marking a significant step in addressing the issue of those still unaccounted for from the Kosovo conflict, reports RFE.
This commission was established under an agreement reached last year as part of EU-mediated dialogue aimed at normalizing relations between the two nations. The agreement focuses on implementing the Declaration on Missing Persons, a political commitment to uncover the fate of those who disappeared during the war.
Current State of Missing Persons
According to the Red Cross, 1,612 people are still missing from the Kosovo conflict. Kosovo’s delegation, led by Halil Cenaj and headed by Andin Hoti, Chair of the Government Commission on Missing Persons, participated in the meeting. However, Serbia has not disclosed the leader of its delegation.
Andin Hoti noted on social media that this meeting aims to establish a work plan and future meeting schedules. Kosovo plans to emphasize monitoring the implementation of the declaration, particularly Serbia’s access to classified archives that may contain critical information.
“This meeting is a crucial step toward implementing the existing agreement, the Declaration on Missing Persons, approved on May 2, 2023,” Hoti stated.
Symbolic but Important First Step
While the EU emphasized the symbolic nature of this initial meeting, it also highlighted its significance in laying the groundwork for future efforts. The commission serves as a platform for both parties to present priorities and agree on next steps. Concrete results are expected in subsequent meetings.
The Declaration commits both Kosovo and Serbia to locating burial sites, conducting excavations, and granting full access to all relevant information, including classified documents. This includes records, orders, and other materials that could aid in identifying missing persons from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2000.
Calls for Accountability
Families of missing persons continue to demand action. Fitim Dubovci, whose father and five other relatives disappeared during the war, expressed his frustration. “So many families have passed away ‘with open eyes,’ not knowing the fate of their loved ones,” he said.
Kosovo has conducted excavations at suspected burial sites, but authorities emphasize that many key locations are within Serbia. Access to these sites has been a persistent obstacle.
The Kosovo-Serbia dialogue’s efforts to resolve the issue of missing persons mirror similar processes in post-conflict regions like Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where joint commissions have been pivotal in uncovering the truth.
This meeting signals a renewed commitment to addressing the tragedy of missing persons and provides hope for families who have waited decades for closure. However, much work remains to translate symbolic gestures into actionable results.
