The former President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, reacted after the decision of the Specialized Chambers of Kosovo in The Hague against four former leaders of the KLA, who were sentenced to a total of 81 years in prison.
He is critical of the functioning of the Specialized Chambers, raising questions about the fact that the trial takes place outside of Kosovo and that there are no judges from Kosovo in the judicial body.
“Today’s judgment in The Hague bears the name of the people of Kosovo, but no judge of that court does not belong to Kosovo and does not understand it, and the hearing was not even held on its land”, says Meidani.
According to him, the decision is of the first instance and the judicial process continues.
“The missing justice must be given! But, ama, it must represent the will of the people of Kosovo, not disappoint them!”, writes the former President.
Meidani also emphasizes the importance of the historical context of the war in Kosovo, arguing that Kosovo and its people were victims of the violence of the Serbian state.
“What does not continue to be discussed is the historical context: Kosovo and its people were victims of the violence of the Serbian state, not an equal party to the aggressor”, he says.
Referring to Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selim, Meidani says that no court decision can take away from them, according to him, the place they occupy in the history of Kosovo and Albanians.
“Personally, I think that no court decision can take away the place occupied by Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi in one of the brightest chapters of our national history”, writes Meidani.
He states that he has known the four former leaders of the KLA as fighters and leaders and says that he stands by them and their families.
In his reaction, Meidani also emphasizes his support for Albania’s Euro-Atlantic orientation, but argues that this should not mean silence in the face of what he considers unfair.
“Loyalty to that path does not require silence when something seems unfair to us. It requires us to ask our Western allies to adhere, in any case and for every people, no matter how small, to the principles on which democracy was built”, he says.
In the end, Meidani calls for the sentences to be challenged through all available legal means and asks the Assembly of Kosovo to consider the future of this court.
“Therefore, I believe that these sentences should be opposed to the last degree, with every available legal means”, concludes the former President of Albania.
