After a heated debate in the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg, it was concluded on March 10 that the EP must stop its years-long silence and appoint a rapporteur on organized crime in Kosovo, whose main bosses are part of many key structures of the authorities and in leading positions.

Council of Europe rapporteur Dick Marty addressed Thursday in Strasbourg the European Parliament (EP) Foreign Affairs Committee on the investigation of allegations of inhuman treatment of people and illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo.

Italian MEP Pino Arlacchi told Radio Belgrade after the session that despite disagreements and criticism of Marty in the European Parliament, the majority of MEPs agreed that a reliable investigation of human organ trafficking must be organized, including witness protection, in order to find out the truth on human organ trafficking.

Arlacchi said he would request by the end of the month the appointment of a special rapporteur for the issue of illegal activities in Kosovo.

Several members of the EP told BETA that, despite great divisions among the European deputies and fierce attacks against Marty, but also with many stands in support of the Council of Europe's rapporteur, the stand prevailed that it is impossible to "bury one's head in the sand" any more.

At the meeting which was closed to the media, Marty once again sharply warned that the truth cannot be learned without a serious international investigation and, primarily, a reliable witness protection program, which is currently not possible to secure in Kosovo.

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly adopted on January 25 Dick Marty's report and a resolution on organ trafficking in Kosovo, which calls for an investigation into these allegations.

169 MPs voted in favor and eight against the resolution, while 14 abstained.

Swoboda demands urgent investigation into organ trafficking claims

Member of the European Parliament Johannes Swoboda demanded Thursday an urgent investigation into the claims that some of Kosovo's top politicians have been involved in human organ trafficking and other criminal activities.

Kosovo's Prime Minister Hasim Taci must be very eager to get to the bottom of these allegations, Swoboda noted in a statement. The international community must not let these claims go uninvestigated, he added.

However, it is important to improve witness protection in Kosovo in order to conduct a proper inquiry, he remarked.