Search continues on third location in Rudnica quarry

RASKA - The search for the bodies of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo has continued on a third location in the Rudnica quarry near Raska, central Serbia.

The chairman of the Serbian government commission on missing persons Veljko Odalovic said on Thursday that two other locations there will be searched as well.

The search in Rudnica should be complete in two to three weeks, when the findings will become known, he said.

The identification of the 45 bodies found so far is under way, Odalovic said, adding that samples have been sent to Sarajevo for a DNA analysis, and that the results are due in mid-August.

He confirmed to reporters that the works were halted in July due to a lack of funding, with costs far exceeding the budget funds initially approved for the purpose.

Prenk Delaj, the chairman of the Kosovo government commission on missing persons, said that he is satisfied that the works in Rudnica have resumed as the families of the missing persons are pressing for quicker examinations and identification.

The examinations in the Rudnica quarry - which, according to witness statements, is the site of a mass grave containing the bodies of 350 Kosovo Albanians - initially started in 2007, resuming in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

The third, final stage of the examinations started on Thursday.

The search is attended by officials of the government commissions on missing persons, the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNMIK and EULEX, as well as by members of the families of the missing Kosovo Albanians.

Photo Tanjug Video (archive)