Swiss police to help investigate atrocities in Kosovo

Switzerland is taking part in an international operation to investigate alleged war crimes and massacres in Kosovo. The federal police authorities said they had been asked to participate in the mission by the U.N. criminal tribunal.

Switzerland is taking part in an international operation to investigate alleged war crimes and massacres in Kosovo. The federal police authorities said they had been asked to participate in the mission by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Some international forensic teams — including a Scotland Yard team (pictured above) — have already started investigations.

The four Swiss policemen – from cantons Zurich, Berne, Valais and Vaud – will be travelling to the Macedonian capital Skopje on Wednesday.

After some brief training by members of the international tribunal, the Swiss delegation will start working in those parts of Kosovo which are under the protection of the German contingent serving with the international force deployed in Kosovo (KFOR).

The policemen will spend a maximum of three weeks on assignment in the Serbian province, where they will search for proof that the Yugoslav army and police carried out massacres.

The U.N. tribunal says it needs the evidence to support its case against the Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and other indicted war crimes suspects.

The police officers are part of several advance teams which are to lay the groundwork for a group of investigators comprised mainly of so-called DVI (Disaster Victim Identification) representatives.

Switzerland has no established DVI teams and therefore will be providing experts to support other teams instead.


Sources: apd, sda-ats