The Standing Delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, headed by Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic, is taking part in the Council of Europe PA’s regular winter session in Strasbourg from 24 to 28 January.

The Resolution on the illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo, based on Council of Europe PA rapporteur Dick Marty’s Report is at the heart of the session. The Report titled “Inhuman treatment of people and illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo” was adopted by the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights on 17 December last year.

Following the debate in which about 60 parliamentarians took part, the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly endorsed Dick Marty’s Report and adopted the Resolution on the illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo by an overwhelming majority of 169 votes. The resolution demands an international investigation into the allegations contained in the report and urges the international community to support EULEX in the investigation into organised crime and human organs trafficking in Kosovo, as well as witness protection.

In the continuation of the session the Council of Europe parliamentarians will be addressed by Serbian President Boris Tadic.

Among others, the Council of Europe’s winter session agenda contains reports on witness protection as cornerstone for justice and reconciliation in the Balkans by Jean-Charles Gardetto, on reconciliation in the region by Pietro Marcenaro, as well as the report on the cooperation of Council of Europe member states in the prosecution of war crimes. Morgan Johansson’s Resolution on the protection of journalists’ sources was also adopted in the course of the session.

The National Assembly’s delegation comprises deputies Milos Aligrudic, Zeljko Ivanji, Branko Ruzic, Tomislav Nikolic, Cedomir Jovanovic, Natasa Vuckovic, Elvira Kovacs, Milos Jevtic, Natasa Jovanovic, Bojan Kostres and Vjerica Radeta.