Council of Europe (CoE) special rapporteur Dick Marty has stated in Strasbourg that he has not obtained any official information on the setting up of an EULEX special team and prosecutor that should be in charge of the investigation into the allegations on human organ trafficking in Kosovo-Metohija presented in his report.

Marty underlined that it is vital that investigative authorities be independent, competent and authorized to conduct the investigation outside Kosovo, especially in Albania, but added that he is not the one to decide on whether EULEX is capable of carrying out this task.

It is also essential that the court should not have any connections with the local authorities in Kosovo, Marty underlined in his address to the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament, and German Radio Deutsche Welle reported.

The CoE Parliamentary Assembly adopted on January 25 Marty's report and resolution on human organ trafficking in Kosovo-Metohija which calls for an international investigation into these allegations.

At the UN Security Council's session, Serbia requested that the international organization establish an independent body which would carry out investigation into illicit trade of human organs in Kosovo-Metohija. The proposal was backed by Russia, while the EU member states and the U.S. were of the opinion that the investigation should be conducted by EULEX.

The EU reached a decision to appoint a special prosecutor and team which will be in charge of the investigation into allegations presented in Marty's report.

In June, EULEX established a working group for investigation into these allegations, which should become partially operative until the end of July.