The Assembly of Kosovo has approved with 99 votes in favor, none against and no abstentions the statement of the PDK regarding the verdict of the first instance of the Specialized Chambers in The Hague against the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, who sentenced them to 81 years in prison in total.
In the statement, the Assembly expresses “deep concern” regarding the verdict of the first instance, simultaneously raising concerns about transparency and respect for fair trial standards.
The Assembly considers unacceptable the court’s conclusion about the existence of a common criminal intent, as well as the responsibility that, on the basis of this conclusion, has been attributed to the accused.
Through the declaration, the state institutions are called to undertake the necessary actions for the protection of the truth and what the Assembly defines as the purity of the liberation war. Also, the drafting of a common state strategy is required, which would include legal, institutional and diplomatic actions.
“The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, as the representative institution of the citizens and expression of their democratic will, expresses its deep concern towards the verdict of the first instance against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selim and Jakup Krasniqi. It considers as unacceptable the conclusion about the existence of a common criminal intent.
It requires all state institutions of the Republic of Kosovo to undertake all necessary actions for the protection of the truth and purity of the liberation war of the people of Kosovo. The Assembly calls for the drafting of a common state strategy, within which to coordinate legal, institutional and diplomatic actions for the protection and affirmation of the complete historical truth about the just struggle for freedom and liberation of Kosovo”, the statement of the Assembly of Kosovo states.
The document recalls the circumstances in which, according to the Assembly, the war of the Kosovo Liberation Army was born, referring to the repression and crimes of the regime of Slobodan Milosevic.
The Assembly also emphasizes the importance of NATO’s intervention in stopping the violence and liberating Kosovo, while emphasizing that the Specialized Chambers in The Hague have gone beyond the mandate for which the Assembly of Kosovo had accepted their establishment.
“In Kosovo of the years 1998-1999, the existence of a joint criminal enterprise for the expulsion of Albanians from Kosovo has already been proven by judgments of the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, against the political, military and police leaders of Yugoslavia and Serbia. It was implemented through the structures of a state that controlled the army, the police and other means of power. This is the historical and judicial context that must remain clear whenever talks about the war in Kosovo. It asks the Specialized Chambers to respect the mandate in accordance with the will of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo”, says the statement of the Assembly of Kosovo.
In conclusion, the Assembly pledges to defend “without compromise” the truth of the liberation war, as well as the right of the convicted to a fair trial, in accordance with the required standards.
“It opposes any attempt to overturn the historical truth of Kosovo, to question its liberation war or to equate the people who fought for freedom and survival with the regime that oppressed it. The truth of the liberation war, justice for the victims and their families and the right of the convicts to a fair trial belong to the same Republic. The Assembly will protect all three without compromise”, the statement of the Assembly of Kosovo states.
