Karen Pierce: Evidence from the War Crimes Institute Helps Uncover the Truth and Ensure Accountability

Dame Karen Pierce, Britain’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, has welcomed the publication this week of evidence by Kosovo’s War Crimes Institute.

She said the materials make an important contribution to documenting the facts and ensuring accountability for the more than 13,000 people who were killed or went missing in the Kosovo war. Pierce also mentioned the thousands of others who were driven from their homes and suffered loss, injury or trauma.

In her statement, published by the United Kingdom Embassy in Kosovo, the British representative also highlighted the historical value of the records.

According to Pierce, the tragic events in Kosovo represent one of the darkest chapters in recent European history, and the lessons learned from them must not be forgotten. She stressed that achieving lasting peace depends on the willingness of all communities to confront the past honestly and work together in pursuit of truth, reconciliation and mutual understanding.

In conclusion, the British special envoy reaffirmed that, even decades after the large-scale human suffering, the United Kingdom remains committed to supporting long-term peace and security in Kosovo and the Western Balkans region.