Kushtrim Gara, a member of the Kosovo Government Commission on Missing Persons, has accused Serbia of obstructing the process of excavations for locating missing persons. This follows a recent agreement between Kosovo and Serbia’s chief negotiators, Besnik Bislimi and Petar Petković, under the mediation of EU envoy Miroslav Lajčák in Brussels.
Obstruction of Excavations
In an interview with EO, Gara emphasized that despite several meetings held this year, including in Brussels, Serbia has yet to fulfill its commitments. The focus of these meetings has been on ensuring the rights of families of missing persons and making this issue a priority.
Gara mentioned that agreements reached earlier this year included plans to excavate at least three locations in Serbia by the end of 2024. However, the process has faced delays, with Serbia postponing excavations to 2025 under unclear pretenses. Locations such as Kozarevë and Bataniçë remain pending, and Serbia has yet to set dates for evaluations or the continuation of excavations.
Politicization and Delays
“Serbia has continued to heavily politicize this process, causing significant delays. This issue demands urgent attention,” said Gara. He pointed out that over 20 potential locations have been identified, but Serbia’s lack of transparency and cooperation has hindered progress.
Additionally, Gara called for access to the archives of the former Yugoslav Army, responsible for war crimes committed during the Kosovo conflict, particularly in the Drenica region. He stressed that the identification and excavation of five known mass grave sites in Serbia must be treated as an urgent priority.
Calls for Accountability
Gara urged Serbian authorities to respect their commitments under the May 2 Agreement and other previous agreements. “Institutions in Kosovo will continue their efforts to ensure families have the right to know the whereabouts of their loved ones. This is a fundamental human right that cannot be delayed further,” Gara concluded.
The issue of missing persons remains a critical humanitarian and political challenge in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. Kosovo continues to press for immediate action to uncover mass graves and deliver long-awaited answers to grieving families.
