The commitment to whiteening missing persons' cases, Gara: We've completed 15 locations this year.

The Garage from the Government Commission for the Undiscovered within the Government of Kosovo has said that this year they have managed to dig into 15 locations with the aim of clarifying cases of violent missing persons in the recent war in Kosovo.

Although this year calls it more dynamic in addressing information about finding missing persons, the race is reserved for data figures of people who have managed to identify themselves. But their challenge remains a lack of reliable information.

And from the end of the war until now, the Government Commission for the Unfinders has managed to carry out over 2,000 and 700 locations in Kosovo.

The race has said that the cause of weather conditions and winter season are currently facing difficulties addressing new locations.

“Even this year is characterised with an effort and a meaningful commitment to addressing information aimed at implementing the necessary excavations at the locations already marked in the Republic of Kosovo, is characterised with an extraordinary dynamic in addressing any information that could contribute to resolving any case of missing persons by force”.

“According to data that we now have as institutions, during this year there are at least 15 locations addressed in the sense of assessment excavations. Now, because of the winter season, we're going to have trouble addressing the locations with the aim of excavations, but of course we're working in terms of dealing with the analysis of the data we've obtained during these months and then following procedures to secure the ordinance from competent courts”, Gara said.

The race says they have managed to complete dozens of DNA samples of missing persons. Some say that they are in harmony with family members and that they are waiting to announce to family members.

“From the remains exhumed this year have been sent with dozens of DNA samples to the International Commission of Missing Persons, some of which have returned compliance reports, but for most of them we are still waiting for DNA results and we will certainly accept the results during 2024, and it will be done with reporting the families of the identified”, says Gara.

And since the end of the war, this Commission has managed to carry out more than 2,000 and 700 locations throughout the Republic of Kosovo. Although this process does not want to be translated into statistical terms, Gara says that they have been able to dig into a four - square - mile [four sq km] perimeter.

Even 2023, but the previous years, the challenge in this process not only in Kosovo's war but also in other wars in Europe and beyond, remains a challenge lack of reliable information. Even during 2023, but also the early years, the Republic of Kosovo continues to remain an example in the region and, more broadly, in the way of handling any information that could contribute to resolving cases of missing persons. During those 25 years after the war, the Republic of Kosovo within its territory has been addressed in a sense by the assessment dig of more than 2700 locations, which makes sense to statistically, is that every 4km2 had a location that we've excavated”, says Gara. /EO