Brussels, 28/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Presidency of the Council and Javier Solana, CFSP High Representative for the EU welcomed the transfer by Belgrade of the last 146 Albanian Kosovar prisoners from Serb gaols. These prisoners were taken to the UN Intermediary Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Eighty of them were freed by UNMIK on Wednesday after their cases were heard by international judges. Other dossiers are being examined. Those incarcerated for criminal offences will serve out their sentences, explained UNMIK to journalists. Some sources have indicated that seven Albanian Kosovars are still being kept in Serb prisons.
The Presidency welcomed the Serb and Yugoslavian action thus fulfilling, "their undertaking" to the international community and providing "appropriate remedy to the prolonged detention of the Kosovan Albanians". The common document signed by UNMIK and Yugoslavia on 5 November 2001, explains that the EU, "encourages all concerned parties to continue to co-operate constructively in the other areas of common interest". The EU, "urges the authorities in Belgrade to fulfil other important international obligations, including co-operation with the International Criminal Court on the former Yugoslavia". In Beirut, Javier Solana welcomed this very important news that would re-establish confidence between Belgrade and Pristina.