The first meeting of the Joint Commission on Missing Persons from the Kosovo conflict will take place tomorrow, as confirmed by Kosovo’s Government Commission on Missing Persons. The head of the commission, Andin Hoti, stated that Kosovo’s primary demands include monitoring the implementation of the Declaration on Missing Persons, with a special focus on the document related to archives.
The Brussels dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia resumes this week with the inaugural meeting of the Joint Commission on Missing Persons, a critical step in addressing unresolved issues from the 1998-1999 war.
EU Envoy Miroslav Lajčák, in a Facebook post on Monday, highlighted his recent mission to the United States, where he met with senior officials to discuss advancing the normalization dialogue.
“My first mission of the year took me to the U.S., where I engaged in detailed discussions with Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Jim O’Brien and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Balkans Sasha Kasanof. Together, we delved into the geopolitical challenges and opportunities in the region, emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation and the need to advance the normalization dialogue. Back in Brussels, this week’s focus will be on Missing Persons with the first meeting of the Joint Commission,” Lajčák wrote.
Key Details
- The meeting, scheduled for January 15, will be held at the deputy-level. Kosovo’s delegation will be represented by Halil Cenaj.
- The agenda includes outlining the work plan for future sessions and addressing critical issues related to missing persons.
- Kosovo’s delegation will emphasize monitoring the implementation of the Declaration on Missing Persons, with a particular focus on the document addressing archives that has been submitted to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
“This meeting marks an important step toward implementing the existing agreement, the ‘Declaration on Missing Persons,’ approved on May 2, 2023,” stated Andin Hoti.
Oversight and Statistics
The Joint Commission will be chaired by the European Union and overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). According to the ICRC, 1,612 individuals remain unaccounted for from the 1998-1999 Kosovo conflict, the majority of whom are ethnic Albanians.
Significance
This meeting is a crucial step toward addressing one of the most emotionally and politically sensitive issues stemming from the Kosovo conflict. The involvement of international oversight and the EU underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in resolving these cases.
