Set of 30 mortal remains repatriated to Kosovo under UN auspices

A third group of some 30 bodies exhumed from Batajnica, Serbia, and believed to be of missing Kosovo Albanians were repatriated under United Nations auspices today.

The Office on Missing Persons and Forensics (OMPF) of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) arranged the transfer in cooperation with the UN Civilian Police Missing Persons Unit (MPU) and the Serbian authorities.

The mortal remains relate to cases exhumed from Batajnica. The remains were identified by DNA, and once verification procedures were completed, they were transported to the Rahovec/Orahovac mortuary where forensic inspections will then begin.

UNMIK said family members would be the first to be informed as soon as their loved ones are identified. Teams consisting of an OMPF outreach officer and MPU identification officers will visit the families affected by the transfer when forensic inspections are complete. The mortal remains will then be ready for release to the families.

The first two groups of bodies exhumed from Serbia were repatriated to Kosovo in May and July of 2003.