Following an initiative by the European Union and approved by President Trajkovski, the Commission on Kidnapped and Other Missing Persons was established on 23 November 2001 under the chairmanship of ambassador Lars Norberg. In February 2002 ambassador Lars Wahlund succeded him as Chairman.

During the initial months of the Commission’s endeavours the local members of the Commission, Mr. Bogomir Nikolovski, Deputy Chief Attorney at the Prosecutor’s office in Skopje, and Dr. Agim Ramadani, Forensic Expert at the Medical Center in Tetovo, took active part and provided substantial help to the work of the Commission. Dr. Agim was later replaced by Dr. Alariza Ozmani. Since February the local members of the Commission have to a lesser extent been involved in the work of the Commission.

At its first meeting on 23 November 2001 the Commission agreed on a list of kidnapped and other missing persons. The humanitarian mandate given to the Commission was to find out the fate of these persons. The list contains 20 names, 13 are Macedonian, six are Albanian and one is Bulgarian.[1] In addition to the names of the persons the list also indicates the place where they were last seen of or heard from.[2] All the 20 disappeared during a period stretching from 17 April to 31 August 2001.

Immediately upon its establishment, the Commission began a systematic follow up of all the clues in each of the 20 cases. This work has entailed interviews with the families, approximately 200 meetings with other individuals or institutions that were assumed to possess relevant information, extensive field visits and frequent contacts with international organisations.

The purpose of this working method has been to collect facts and then confront those who are in a position to know or to find out what happened to the kidnapped and missing persons with solid information. With these facts at hand, the Chairman of the Commission has on several occasions met Mr. Ali Ahmeti and other leading commanders of the former NLA as well as Minister Ljube Boskovski and functionaries in charge of different branches of the Ministry of Interior urging them to take the necessary measures to shed light on the fate of the disappeared persons. The withholding of information has substantially impeded the work of the Commission.

The Commission now believes the time is appropriate to issue a report. The families and the relatives of the persons who disappeared have a legitimate right to have an account of the current status of the Commission’s findings. Furthermore the Commission hopes that the report will lead to an intensification of the efforts to find out the truth about these tragic events.

The Commission has worked independently and bears the sole responsibility for its conclusions. At the same time it would like to stress that the frequent contacts with and support from international organisations, such as the EU, NATO, OSCE and ICRC has been absolutely crucial and a « conditio sine qua non » for its work.

The information received by the Commission in the course of its work represents a vast material, which has been systemised and processed to be made accessible to the reader. It can be described as a puzzle of thousands of pieces requiring considerable time and effort to be put together. What follows represents a condensed account of the information and facts gathered through the comprehensive work regarding each of the 20 cases. This report only includes information that the Chairman of the Commission has deemed relevant.

The report is a public document and it should also be noted that the information gathered by the Commission will be made available to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, and can be used in any way that it deems appropriate.

Conclusions

The Commission has so far not been able to solve its prime task; i.e. to find the kidnapped and other missing persons. The Commission shares the disappointment and concerns of the families. As previously stated, the withholding of information is deemed to be the main reason for the Commissions inability to make progress in the search for the fate of the disappeared persons. The concerned parties, the Macedonian security and police forces, in particular the MoI, as well as the top leadership of the NLA have not provided the Commission with all the relevant information that could have been expected from them. However, based on the information that has been obtained the Commission has come to the following conclusions for its further work:

· As regards eight of the Macedonian cases there is enough information to conclude that they were abducted by the NLA. These facts have even been acknowledged by the former NLA. Four other Macedonian persons reported kidnapped moved in areas where it is possible – or even likely – that they came across NLA units. Nevertheless, in these cases the Commission cannot with sufficient certainty establish that this is also what happened.

· With respect to the kidnapped or missing Albanians, one was taken and interrogated by Macedonian police units before his disappearance. One Albanian went missing in connection with a checkpoint manned by persons in police uniforms, while a third Albanian went missing while he travelled along a road with police checkpoints and the next day his car was found outside the police station in Bitola. In the remaining Albanian cases and the Bulgarian case, it has not been possible to obtain any solid information on the circumstances of their disappearance.

· Based on the these facts, the Commission has come to the conclusion that there are individuals within the former NLA who have relevant information that to date has not been disclosed regarding at least eight of the Macedonian cases. On the same basis, the Commission has come to the conclusion that there are individuals within the Macedonian security and police forces who have information regarding three Albanian cases which to date has not been provided. Continued efforts are urgently called for in order to find out what has happened to the kidnapped and other missing persons.

General remarks

The Commission would also like to highlight the following remarks.

In the course of its work the Commission has on numerous occasions received information that the kidnapped and other missing persons are alive and kept in captivity in camps, prisons or houses. In some of the cases of missing Albanians it has also been alleged by the Ministry of Interior that they are alive and well but hiding. The Commission has on every occasion it has received such information done its outmost to try to find out if there is any substance behind these claims. The efforts have included international contacts and requests to international organisations with monitors or soldiers in the area. It has also in some instances led to field visits by the Commission itself. In none of the occasions the Commission has found any substance in these claims.

Consequently the Commission has no solid information which points in either direction, i.e. that any of the kidnapped and other missing persons are dead or alive. In this context it should also be pointed out that the refusal of the relatives of the kidnapped Macedonians to give blood samples has not facilitated the work of the Commission. As a result the Commission is not in a position to exclude that any of the bodies found in the exhumation between Trebos and Neprosteno belong to the 12 Macedonians from the Tetovo area.

Although the Commission has had a humanitarian mandate, it is no secret that its work has been conducted in a sensitive political environment. Both Macedonian and Albanian Macedonian political interests are linked to and intertwined with the fate of the kidnapped or missing persons and the outcome of the Commissions work. The Macedonians and the Albanians should together have an obligation and an interest to resolve this issue.

It should be clearly stated that the main responsibility for the task to find out what actually happened to the persons concerned lies with the entities involved, i.e. the Macedonian authorities and the former NLA. The Commission can only encourage and facilitate this work and has persistently urged both sides to increase the efforts within respective organisations to clarify the circumstances. It should be mentioned that the Ministry of Interior as well as Mr. Ahmeti have formed their own commissions. It would be less accurate to say that any of these bodies so far has substantially contributed to the work of the Commission. However, the Commission has the impression that among the leaders of the former NLA a greater sense of urgency in solving these matters is prevailing.

Finally, to the mind of the Commission it is rather worrisome that in the course of its work it has encountered little that resembles ordinary police work which emanates in comprehensive police reports.[3] The lack of serious investigations or attempts to solve these matters raises questions of a more general nature.[4]

Account of the 20 cases

In some of the cases, two to four kidnapped or missing persons were together when they were last seen of or heard from. In other cases persons disappeared individually but at the same time and in close vicinity. To facilitate the understanding of the circumstances under which those persons disappeared, such cases are grouped together and dealt with in the context of the actual situation. When a person is named in this report, it does not necessarily imply a criminal liability, but that the Commission believes him to be in a position to possess, or to be able to find out, more information that could assist the Commission in determining the fate or the whereabouts of the persons concerned.

A. The Macedonians

With respect to the 12 Macedonians in the Tetovo area, they were reported kidnapped within a period of seven weeks from 5 July to 31 August 2001 when the security situation there was rather tense.[5] Thus, when dealing with these cases the Commission has given particular attention to the actual military situation on the ground as well as to who was in charge of units active in the area at the time in question. As Daut Rexhepi, also known as Commander Leka was the NLA Commander in charge of the units north of Tetovo, the Commission has met with him on several occasions as it believes him to be in a crucial position to provide information as to what happened in his area of command. Concerning eight of the missing Macedonians, the former NLA has told the Commission that it believes that one of its own units, over which NLA claims to have had limited control, was responsible for the abduction and later liquidation of these persons. The eight are Vasko Mihajlovski, Cvetko Mihajlovski, Krsto Gogovski, Robert “Boban” Jeftimovski, Gjoko Sinadinovski, Ilko and Vasko Trajcevski and Andre Ristovski.

Vasko Mihajlovski, Cvetko Mihajlovski and Krsto Gogovski

From the 23-27 July some 40-60 Macedonian villagers of Neprosteno were abducted by NLA soldiers and brought to a house and later to the school in the village, allegedly for their own safety and security.

Following this operation, three of the villagers, namely Vasko Mihajlovski, Cvetko Mihajlovski and Krsto Gogovski, disappeared and have not been seen since.

Vasko Mihajlovski

Newly wedded Vasko and Lence Mihajlovski were in their house in Neprosteno on 23 July 2001, when shooting started in the village at about 10.00. They were in regular telephone contact with Lence´s mother, Mrs Mitra Daberska, in Tetovo and their intention was to escape into town. At 13.00 the telephone contact was broken. In the afternoon Lence´s mother received a telephone call from a friend in Neprosteno, informing her that Vasko and her daughter had been abducted and taken to a house in the village. Lence was kept there for two days and was then taken to the elementary school in Neprosteno. After another two days she was released. Vasko was separated from his wife on 23 July at about 18.00.

The night between 23 and 24 July another villager that had also been abducted was brought to the same house. He was put in the same room as Vasko and together they were held there during the night. At about 07.00 hours the following morning, two uniformed men took them to the school in Neprosteno, where they were kept in the basement. They were interrogated by two armed men in uniform whom Vasko apparently knew. The interrogators asked about “watchmen” and civilian Macedonian guards in the village. The other man was later released.

Consequently, it can be established that Vasko Mihajlovski, together with his wife, were taken by the NLA on 23 July 2001, and that the same night he was separated from the other detained villagers. Furthermore, it can be concluded that Vasko was held in the basement of the school in Neprosteno together with another villager the night of 24-25 July. He has not been seen since.

Cvetko Mihajlovski

On 23 July 2001 Cvetko Mihajlovski and his wife Angelina were working in their fields in Neprosteno, when he was abducted at gunpoint by three NLA soldiers. The man who pointed his machinegun at Cvetko was strikingly young. Employees of the nearby factory “Balkan Mlin” witnessed the abduction. Cvetko was taken away on foot in the direction from Neprosteno towards Dzepciste and Trebos. Angelina and a man from the factory followed them trying to stop the abduction but turned back when one of the armed men fired shots in their direction. Cvetko has not been seen since.

It can be concluded that Cvetko Mihajlovski was abducted by the NLA on 23 July 2001.

Krsto Gogovski

On 23 July 2001, Krsto Gogovski left Neprosteno due to heavy shooting and the advancement of NLA units into the village. The following day he went back to the village to look after his property. According to an eyewitness Krsto was taken from his house by men in uniform on 24 July. He has not been seen since.

It can be concluded that Krsto Mihajlovski was abducted by the NLA on 24 July 2001.

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The Commission has information that Commander Zeqirija and Mr. Safet of the NLA were in charge of the operation in Neprosteno. Both Commander Zeqirija and Mr. Safet are well known by the villagers. When Mr. Safet appeared in the school some of those detained took the opportunity to speak to him.

The Commission has, despite repeated efforts, not succeeded in getting in touch with Commander Zeqirija and Mr. Safet. According to the NLA leadership Commander Zeqirija has suffered heart attacks and has received treatment abroad.

The Commission considers that Commander Zeqirija and Mr. Safet are in a position to provide information about the fate of Vasko Mihajlovski, Cvetko Mihajlovski and Krsto Gogovski.

The former NLA claims that Vasko, Cvetko and Krsto were taken from Neprosteno and later liquidated and buried at an unknown place by an NLA-unit over which they had limited control. The Commission strongly suggests that the former NLA comes forward with information that would underpin these allegations.

Robert “Boban” Jeftimovski, Gjoko Sinadinovski, Ilko and Vasko Trajcevski.

Drenovec is a neighbourhood in the northern outskirts of Tetovo. On 24 July most Macedonians left the neighbourhood, due to the advance of the NLA in the area. Ilko Trajcevski´s house was situated across the street from position of the former NLA, located in an unfinished building.

At about 09.00-10.00 on 27 July Robert Jeftimovski, Gjoko Sinadinovski, Ilko Trajcevski and Vasko Trajcevski went back to the house allegedly to turn off the electricity and collect some clothes. They arrived by car and intended to stay only for a short while. They were seen parking the car and entering the house. Shortly after, five to six NLA soldiers were seen in the garden of the house. Later, relatives phoned the house and talked to Ilko who said that everything was fine, but asked them not to call again. This was the last contact with the four men in the house. They have not been seen since. It can be concluded that Robert Jeftimovski, Gjoko Sinadinovski, Ilko and Vasko Trajcevski were abducted by NLA on 27 July 2001.

As the OSCE was alerted by the family, monitors visited the house the following day at 13.30 but found it empty. The OSCE contacted the NLA asking for information about the four men, but received the answer that the NLA had not captured them.

Commander Qemal has informed the Commission that he was appointed Commander of the Drenovec area on 25 July, succeeding Commander Roki who had been killed. He claimed, however, that upon his appointment he immediately went to Kosovo and was absent from Drenovec on 27 July, and therefore knew nothing about the disappearance of these men. In a later conversation Qemal stated, however, that he had been in the area, but without influence over the troops as he was newly appointed.

The Commission finds Qemal’s statements doubtful for two reasons. Firstly, Qemal’s story has changed over time. Secondly, on 25 July a cease-fire was signed and on 26 July it was implemented in the Drenovec area. The implementation of the cease-fire was carried out rather smoothly and without major breaches, something that indicates that someone was in command of the troops. The Commission is of the view that Commander Qemal - whether he was present in the area on the actual day or not - is in a position to know what his soldiers did and to get information from them about the fate of the four men Robert Jeftimovski, Gjoko Sinadinovski, IlkoTrajcevski and Vasko Trajcevski after they were abducted on 27 July. Furthermore, the Commission has been informed that Mr. Ibrahim Sulejmani, called Mimi and resident of Drenovec and a former soldier of Qemal’s, might possess information about the abduction of the four men. Despite repeated efforts, the Commission has not been able to get in contact with Mr. Sulejmani.

The former NLA claims that there had been an NLA-unit, which had been very difficult to control, operating in the area. It claimed further that this unit was responsible for the abduction and liquidation of Robert, Gjoko, Ilko and Vasko. It claims not to know where the bodies were buried, but said that the commander of this unit should posses the information. The Commission has not been able to confirm this information, despite efforts including meeting the alleged Commander. It therefore urges the former NLA to substantiate its claims.

André Ristovski

On 4 July 2001 André Ristovski left his home in Dobroste at around 1300 hours and walked up the hill in the direction of Jelosnik. He brought his binoculars that he had bought earlier the same day with him to “look around”. His father advised him not to go up there since there were NLA fighters in the area. He has not been seen since.

Some time later André’s sister went up the hill to search for her brother. She was then taken by the NLA and immediately returned to the village.

At the time of André’s disappearance the NLA had started preparations up in the hills for further advancement towards the Dobroste area and the main road.

Mr. Fatmir Osmani, who was Mayor of Dobroste told the Commission that immediately after André’s disappearance efforts were made to find André, but without results. The contact person between Mr. Osmani and the NLA was allegedly Mr Asani, who presently is Mayor of Dobroste. Initially denying it, Mr. Asani later changed his statement and acknowledged that this had been the case. The Commission then contacted the NLA leadership for a meeting with the commander in Dobroste who turned out to be the very same Isen Asani. In the conversation that followed Mr. Asani maintained that he had only had a co-ordinating role between the villagers and the NLA, but confronted with the statement of the NLA leadership, he agreed that he had been the NLA commander in Dobroste. The Commission then asked whether it might have been possible that the NLA formation making preparations north-west of Dobroste had seen André. Mr. Asani categorically denied the possibility that this could have been the case and stated that the fate of André should be searched for on the Macedonian side. He further claimed that the Macedonian police “might have used the slightly mentally retarded André” to spy on the NLA in the mountains. This should have been the reason why André went into the mountains with binoculars during such a tense period and against his father’s advice.

The Commission finds it very likely that André encountered NLA formations during his walk in the mountains. The Commission therefore finds it equally likely that the answer about André’s fate should be with the NLA and with Mr. Asani in particular.

The Commission urges the NLA leadership to search within its structures for information about André Ristovski.

Dimitrie Dimovski

On 23 July 2001 Dimitrie Dimovski was watering his field in Dzepciste. At around 16.00 hours he called his family in Tetovo saying that he was on his way home. After that he was seen in the village Dzepciste, close to the Mayor’s office, where he told a friend that he was heading towards Trebos and then back home to Tetovo. He was advised not to use that particular road, due to heavy shooting in the area. Dimitrie did not follow this advice and he has not been seen since.

The Mayor of Dzepciste, Mr Vebi Ismaili, has told the Commission that hostilities started on 23 July at about 16.00 hours in Ratae and Zilce, close to the road that Dimitrie was using. The Mayor said that there were both NLA units and units from the Macedonian army and police in the area.

There are no known eyewitnesses to the circumstances under which Dimitrie Dimovski disappeared. Obviously both Macedonian and NLA units were at the time of his disappearance involved in hostilities in the area were he moved. Under those circumstances the Commission recommends that both the NLA and the Macedonian forces that operated in the area, search within their respective structures, for information about what happened to Dimitrie Dimovski on his way back home to Tetovo in the afternoon 23 July 2001.

Simeon Jakimovski

Simeon Jakimovski’s house is located in the neighborhood of Drenovec in Tetovo. On 24 July 2001 he left his house to go to Tetovo town. At the “kindergarten” he met a neighbour and they walked together to the centre of Tetovo. At around noon they split up in front of Hotel Macedonia. He said that he was going to a garage to get something for his car. That was the last time Simeon Jakimovski was seen. He has not been seen since.

There are no eyewitnesses or any other tangible information regarding the circumstances under which Simeon Jakimovski disappeared.

The Commission has not been able to obtain any solid information in this case and is consequently without sufficient basis to make any judgement as to the fate of Simeon Jakimovski.

Bosko and Slavko Dimitrievski.

Concerning Bosko and Slavko there are two versions of what happened when they disappeared, one of the relatives and one of the NLA. As the Commission has been unable to find any evidence supporting either of these versions, it cannot issue a statement on the fate of Bosko and Slavko. The Commission therefore describes the two versions without judging them.

According to relatives of the two brothers, Bosko and Slavko left the village of Beloviste on 31 August 2001 at about 13.00 hours to go to the hospital in Tetovo. They left the village in a taxi from the company ARB-EKS Tetovo driven by an Albanian driver. As they arrived to Drenovec they were stopped by NLA and the brothers and the taxi driver were taken to a house above the railway in the neighbourhood called Ciglana. They were kept there for two days. The taxi driver was released and the Commission has contacted the ARB-EKS taxi company in order to identify the taxi driver but without result.

According to the former NLA, as Bosko and Slavko had very close contacts with the Albanians in their home area, they were taken by Macedonian police structures and liquidated. One additional factor would also be that Slavko murdered the Mayor of Beloviste some 20 years ago and spent 17 years in prison for this. This was one of the first opportunities the Macedonians had to take revenge. The former NLA has claimed to know an eyewitness to the burial of the two brothers but has not been able to come forward with concrete information pointing out the exact location of the bodies, notwithstanding repeated pledges from the Commission.

The Commission has not been able to obtain any solid information in this case, but only two contradicting versions without any substantive information supporting them. Consequently, the Commission cannot make a pronouncement as to the fate of Bosko and Slavko Dimitrievski.

Nestor Petrovski

On 24 May 2001, most Serbs and Macedonians left Matejce for Kumanovo, due to the advance of NLA. However, the elderly Nestor Petrovski did not want to leave his home, but decided to stay in the village when everybody left. His neighbours talked to him just before they left and asked him if they should bring him something from town. That was the last time somebody saw Nestor.

The Commission has been asking people in the neighbourhood, without being able to find out any concrete information concerning the fate of Nestor. Some say that Nestor has died, others say that he might have escaped up into the mountains. The Commission has been in contact with the Mayor’s office in Lipkovo. They have asked neighbours and other people in the village, community leaders and former NLA soldiers, but without being able to find out any new information about Nestor. The Commission visited the house of Nestor and searched the premises, but without any trace. The roof has fallen in and the house is full of rubble. The Commission has therefore requested the Crises Management Centre (CMC) to de-mine and excavate the house and the garden. This request was sent to the CMC on 19 April and has so far not been answered despite reminders.

The Commission has thus not been able to obtain any solid information in this case. It therefore finds it without sufficient basis to support a pronouncement as to the fate of Nestor Petrovski.

B. The Albanians and the Bulgarian

It is worth noting that all the Albanians and the Bulgarian were reported missing in areas not directly affected by the armed conflict and far away from the frontlines. Since there are reasons to believe that some of the Albanians were last seen in conjunction with police activities, the Commission has worked directly with the MoI in these cases.

Hajredin Halimi

On 7 August 2001 at about 04.00-05.00 a Macedonian police force carried out a raid in the house of Mr. Musafer Halimi, Virgino 107, in Skopje. During this operation five men were killed.

Hajredin together with his brother Fikri, nephew Elam and Musafer were brought to the police station Gazi Baba – in Avto Komanda. They were placed in separate cells and were interrogated. According to themselves, Fikri and Elam were released on 9 August at different places in the city. Two hours before his release Fikri heard the voice of Hajredin. After that there is no information about the fate of Hajredin. Musafar was kept and later sentenced for connections with NLA and was later released on the Presidential Pardon. According to the MoI, Hajredin, Fikri and Elam were all released on 8 August with 30 minutes interval between 10.00 and 11.00 from the police station.

When the Commission first visited Gazi Baba, the Commander Dimce Jovanovski claimed not to know anything about this case. When reminded and shown a letter from the MoI to the Helsinki Committee, informing about the detention and release of the Hajredins, he agreed that this might have taken place at the station, but would have involved “higher structures” with which he had nothing to do. According to him it is usual that “higher structures” use the facilities of different police stations without involving the officers. Registers and other relevant records would then be kept by these structures.

The Department for Public Security at The Ministry of Interior informed the Commission that the operation on Virgino 107, was carried out by a combined police force consisting of Special Police Unit Tigers reporting directly to the Minister of Interior, DBK (Service for Security and Counterespionage) and regular police. The Ministry confirms that the four Halimi men were detained in the Gazi Baba police station, and interrogated. But, according to the Ministry, all except Musafer were released the following day (8 Aug.). The Ministry claims that it possesses information that – following this operation – the NLA made an internal investigation of all the men who had been detained in the Virgino 107 operation to find out if they had provided information to the police. This information has not been presented to the Commission.

In repeated conversations at the Ministry of Interior, the Commission requested to meet with police officers directly involved in detaining, interrogating and releasing Hajredin. The Ministry replied that it could be arranged after its own commission has interviewed them. In May the Commission on Kidnapped and Other Missing Persons met with Mr. Ljubce Andonovski, the Head of Skopje DBK, and the other police officers involved in the interrogation of the Halimis, but no additional information came out of that meeting.

All parties agree that the Halimis were taken to the police station Gazi Baba on the 7 August for interrogation. According to the Macedonian police, all but Musafer were released in the morning on the 8 August in front of the police station. Musafer was sentenced for relations with the NLA, but later released on the Presidential pardon in the autumn. The police claim that it released also Hajredin but has not supported this with any other information. There are no official records at the police station indicating Hajredin Halimis detention or release. Hajredin Halimi has not been seen since his detention. The Commission finds it likely that Mr. Ljubce Andonovski should be able to provide more information concerning the disappearance of Hajredin Halimi.

Sultan Memeti

On 6 May 2001 at about 21.30 Sultan Memeti phoned his brother in Switzerland. During the conversation he mentioned that he was on his way home from Struga to Radolista. At about 22.00 one of Sultan’s friends came driving on the same road, when he suddenly saw Sultan’s white Mercedes in front of the orthodox graveyard in the outskirts of Struga. The car was empty, the window at the driver’s seat pulled down, the door open, the lights on and the trunk lid was open with the keys left in the locker. Sultan has not been seen since.

The friend immediately informed Sultan’s family and at about 22.30 they called the police in Struga to report the incident. The police went to the site, but did not carry out any examination of the car, due to heavy rainfall.

In the police investigation, about a dozen persons have testified that they drove on the same road that evening, and that they had been stopped by men in police uniforms, at the place where Sultan’s car was found. One of the uniformed men was standing by the side of the road with a sign stopping the cars, while the other was sitting in a white Lada Niva, with, according to some of the witnesses, the text “police” written on the side of it. The men wore flak jackets and they had a rotating light inside the Lada Niva. None of the eyewitnesses recognized any of the men, and it is therefore believed that they were not from Struga. One witness in a nearby house saw the men in uniform apprehend a person, allegedly Sultan, driving a white Mercedes. He did not approach as he was afraid of possible consequences and he could not recognise any of the persons as it was dark and rainy. The persons in uniform then left the place in the Lada Niva together with the apprehended person.

The police in Struga have informed the Commission that on 6 May there was a traffic control post a few hundred meters west of the orthodox graveyard where Sultan was apprehended. This control was closed at 21.00. The chief of police in Struga has assured the Commission that no regular police under his command had set up any traffic control on 6 May at the parking lot of the graveyard and that Lada Niva vehicles are never used for traffic control operations.

It is worth noting that the Struga police have presented a comprehensive report about the events and that it has concluded that it was not a police unit under their command that had organised the police checkpoint where Sultan disappeared.

The Commission has requested Mobimak to provide information about Sultan’s mobile phone and numbers last dialled and received. Mobimak has not answered despite repeated reminders. In an effort to get access to this information, the Commission has repeatedly requested the MoI to support its efforts with Mobimak. The MoI has not responded to this request.

The Commission finds it beyond reasonable doubt that Sultan Memeti was captured in a police control in Struga. He has not been seen since then. According to DBK, there were no special security operations in the area at this time and the local police have concluded that it was not involved in the disappearance of Sultan. Irrespective of this, the Commission is convinced that more information concerning the fate of Sultan should be found within the Macedonian police and security structures. The MoI has stated to the Commission that Sultan is alive and well, living in Albania nowadays, but has failed to provide any evidence to support this statement. It has also not come to the knowledge of the Commission that any attempts to confirm this information have been conducted.

Radoslav Balev, Ibrahim and Zeqirija Veliu

In the morning of 1 May 2001 Zeqirija Veliu left his home on Topanska 11 in Skopje to go to Strumica. He drove a white Volvo 460 with registration number SK 108-HC, belonging to his nephew Sami Veliu. Another of his nephews, Ibrahim Veliu, travelled with him. Zeqirija called his wife at about 13.00 hours - apparently still in Skopje - but on his way. At about 17.00 hours he called Sami Veliu in Skopje to ask for the telephone number to a friend, called Panco, in Strumica. At that time they had apparently reached Novo Selo, a small town close to the Bulgarian border where they were supposed to meet their Bulgarian friend Radoslav Balev. Since then, there are no traces of Zeqirija and Ibrahim Veliu, or of Radoslav Balev. Also the Volvo 460 in which they travelled has disappeared.

According to relatives, Ibrahim spoke to Panco on the phone at about 17.10, arranging an appointment with him half an hour later at Ivona Company in Strumica. Panco, who is the owner of that company, told the Commission that he knew Zeqirija, but that the phone conversation was the first contact they had had since 1998. He had told Ibrahim that he was not in Strumica at the time and that they therefore could not meet. They agreed that Ibrahim would call the following day, something he never did.

The family has not reported Zeqirija and Ibrahim Veliu missing to the police. Nor has any such report been submitted regarding Radoslav Balev. The police have therefore not launched any investigation concerning these cases. The family has, however, contacted the ICRC in the matter.

The Commission has requested Mobimak to provide information about their mobile phones and numbers last dialled and received. Mobimak has not answered this question despite repeated reminders. In an effort to get access to this information, the Commission has repeatedly requested the MoI to support its efforts with Mobimak. The MoI has not responded to this request.

The Commission has not been able to obtain any solid information about the fate of Ibrahim Veliu, Zeqirija Veliu and Radoslav Balev.

Islam Veliu

On 17 April 2001, Islam Veliu left by car from Gostivar to go back to his home in Ohrid. He was last seen at about 17.00-18.00 hours by a friend in Gostivar. He was driving an Opel kadett with registration number OH-543-AR, belonging to his brother. He called home on his mobile at about 19.00 hours, to say that he was in Gostivar but on his way back home. He expected to arrive at about 21.00 hours. His wife tried to call him later in the evening, but the mobile was turned off. After 21.00 hours the family started searching for him, but he has not been seen since.

The family has reported Islam missing to the police in Struga. The police have distributed a telegram to all police stations in Macedonia in search for him, but so far there is no trace of him or the car.

The Commission has requested Mobimak to provide information about Islam’s mobile phone and numbers last dialled and received. Mobimak has not answered this question despite repeated reminders. In an effort to get access to this information, the Commission has requested the MoI to support its efforts with Mobimak. The MoI has not responded to this request.

The Commission has not been able to find out any solid information about the fate of Islam Veliu.

Ruzdi Veliu

On 20 August 2001, Ruzdi Veliu left Kicevo to go to Struga at about noon. A friend of Ruzdi saw that he had been stopped at a police checkpoint at Botun at about 13.30. He then called Ruzdi who said that he had been questioned by the police, but allowed to carry on. The police in Ohrid have confirmed this information, saying that he was stopped at 13.55.

In Struga Ruzdi met with another friend and they spent the afternoon together until about 15.00 or 16.00 hours. After that, Ruzdi said that he would head back home to Kicevo. The same friend who saw Ruzdi at the checkpoint in Botun, saw him also in Struga in the Cafe Paris, and spoke with him twice on the phone that afternoon.

At about 16.00 hours, Ruzdi called a relative and said he was on his way home. This was the last time someone heard anything from him and he has not been seen since. The same friend that saw Ruzdi at the checkpoint in Botun said that his mobile phone registered a missed call from Ruzdi that evening at 19.53 hours.

According to eyewitnesses, there was a checkpoint in Izvor, on the road between Struga and Kicevo, that afternoon, manned by police reservists using civil cars, including a white Golf with registration number OH-588-KC. The Commission has tried to identify this unit with the help of the MoI but despite numerous efforts and reminders, the MoI has neither provided any information about the unit, nor who is the current holder of the registration number.

The day after, on 21 August, Ruzdi’s car was discovered in front of the police station in Bitola and there are also pictures taken of the car from this day. The police in Bitola have declared that the abandoned car was noticed outside the police station only on 25 August. Allegedly for security reasons, the police carried out an anti-bomb inspection on 29 August, but the car was found without bombs.

There have been several rumours that Ruzdi is still alive and kept by the Macedonian police. According to one witness, he was for some time in the Bitola prison but also held in other places. This information has not been possible to confirm.

The Commission has requested Mobimak to provide information about Ruzdi’s mobile phone and numbers last dialled and received. Mobimak has not answered this question despite repeated reminders. In an effort to get access to this information, the Commission has requested the MoI to support its efforts with Mobimak. The MoI has not responded to this request.

The Commission finds it most likely that Ruzdi has been taken by Macedonian police. The MoI has not been able to provide any credible explanation as to how Ruzdi’s car ended up in front of the police station in Bitola, nor what unit was seen on the road between Struga and Kicevo. The MoI claims that Ruzdi is alive and well together with his brother Fasliu in Sipkovica. According to the MoI, there is a taped phone conversation between Fasliu and his mother, in which Fasliu tells her not to worry as Ruzdi is together with him. The MoI has promised the Commission access to the tapes, but has not delivered on that promise. The Commission strongly believes that there are individuals within the MoI with knowledge about the fate of Ruzdi Veliu, but who have not come forward yet.

LIST OF PERSONS

NAME	DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH	DATE OF DISAPP.	PLACE OF DISAPP.	CITIZENSHIP & NATIONALITY	LAST ADDRESS
Islam Veliu	21.06.1963, Delogozde, Struga	17.04.2001	Gostivar-Ohrid	MK – Alb.	Delogozde, Struga
Ibrahim Veliu	10.07.1965, Stanciste (FRY)	01.05.2001	Strumica	MK – Alb.	Skopje
Radoslav Balev	12.11.1968, Blagojevgrad (BG)	01.05.2001	Strumica	BG – Bul.	Bulgaria
Zeqirija Veliu	..,.., 1961, Stanciste (FRY)	01.05.2001	Strumica	MK – Alb.	Skopje
Sultan Memeti	..,.., 1963, Radolista, Struga	06.05.2001	Struga	MK – Alb.	Radolista, Struga
Nestor Petrovski	..,.., 1924, Pozarjane	25.05.2001	Matejce, Kumanovo	MK – Mac.	Matejce, Kumanovo
Andre Ristovski	..,.., 1967, Tetovo	05.07.2001	Dobroste	MK – Mac.	Dobroste, Tetovo
Cvetko Mihajlovski	..,.., 1949, Neprosteno, Tetovo	23.07.2001	Neprosteno	MK – Mac.	Neprosteno
Dimitrie Dimovski	..,.., 1941, Tetovo	23.07.2001	Dzepciste-Tetovo	MK – Mac.	Tetovo
Vasko Mihajlovski	..,.., 1963, Neprosteno, Tetovo	23.07.2001	Neprosteno	MK – Mac.	Neprosteno
Krsto Gogovski	27.09.1934, Neprosteno, Tetovo	24.07.2001	Neprosteno	MK – Mac.	Neprosteno
Simeon Jakimovski	10.05.1941, Brvenica, Tetovo	24.07.2001	Tetovo	MK – Mac.	Brvenica, Tetovo
Boban Jeftimovski	28.12.1972, Tetovo	27.07.2001	Drenovec, Tetovo	MK – Mac.	Tetovo

Gjoko Sinadinovski	09.06.1954, Varvara, Tetovo	27.07.2001	Drenovec, Tetovo	MK – Mac.	Tetovo
Ilko Trajcevski	09.06.1953, Tetovo	27.07.2001	Drenovec, Tetovo	MK – Mac.	Tetovo
Vasko Trajcevski	19.12.1976, Tetovo	27.07.2001	Drenovec, Tetovo	MK – Mac.	Tetovo
Hajredin Halimi	..,.., 1954, Glumovo, Saraj (SK)	07.08.2001	Skopje	MK – Alb.	Skopje
Ruzhdi Veliu	02.05.1970, Kolare, Kicevo	20.08.2001	Botun	MK – Alb.	Kolare, Kicevo
Bosko Dimitrievski	..,..,1945, Beloviste, Tetovo	31.08.2001	Beloviste-Tetovo	MK – Mac.	Beloviste, Tetovo
Slavko Dimitrievski	..,.., 1952, Beloviste, Tetovo	31.08.2001	Beloviste-Tetovo	MK – Mac.	Beloviste, Tetovo

[1] In this report the word Albanian indicates, when referring to persons, Macedonian citizens of Albanian national affiliation.

[3] There is possibly one exception. See the case of Sultan Mehmeti.

[4] This does not in any way diminish NLA’s responsibility according to international law. The applicable provisions in article three of the Geneva Convention and articles four to six in Protocol II concerning treatment of persons detained/held in relation to a non-international armed conflict are binding to both sides of the conflict.

[5] It should be noted that two of the cases were reported to have occured after the Ohrid Framework Agreement was signed on 13 August.