UNMIK/PR/1011
Wednesday, 23 July 2003

Transfer of mortal remains from Serbia proper to Kosovo at Gate 3

PRISTINA - The Office on Missing Persons and Forensics (OMPF), in cooperation with the CIVPOL Missing Persons Unit (MPU) and the Serbian authorities, has arranged for a second group of around 40 bodies exhumed from Batajnica and identified by DNA, to be repatriated from Serbia proper to Kosovo today.

The actual handover of the identified bodies between the Serbian authorities and the OMPF/MPU team will take place at Gate Three (Merdare crossing point) at the OMPF transfer facility. The OMPF/MPU team will check all documentation, which comprises lists, autopsy reports, death and identification certificates.

The team will also confirm that the label codes of the bodies and clothing correspond to the lists provided by the Coordination Committee for Kosovo (CCK). After the verification procedure, the mortal remains will be transported to the mortuary in Rahovec/Orahovac and forensic inspections will begin shortly afterwards.

Family members are always the first to be informed about the identification of their loved ones. Accordingly, once the forensic inspections are complete, a team consisting of an OMPF outreach officer and MPU identification officers will arrange to visit the families affected by these repatriations. The mortal remains will then be ready for release to the families.

The provenance of the victims shall not be disclosed to the public at the request of the family associations..

JOSE PABLO BARAYBAR, CHIEF, OMPF, WILL BE PRESENT.

Please note: access to the OMPF transfer facility is restricted unless otherwise directed by OMPF representatives.