In the Specialist Chambers of Kosovo (DHSK) in The Hague, the former Wesley Clark, John Stewart Duncan’s former political adviser in the trial against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.
During his testimony, Duncan stated that there was no evidence of the existence of a KLA General Staff in military sense.
He said the term was mentioned only in political statements, without factual support from the field.
“While I was in Kosovo, I have not seen any evidence of a general headquarters in the military sense. I only heard it in political contexts”Duncan said.
His testimony is being obtained by prosecutor Matt Halling, who focused on the role of area commanders in negotiations on the demilitarization agreement on June 17, 1999.
Duncan said that, according to the indictment, the KLA in the 90s was a small, non-structured organization, where military titles were often more symbolic.
He added that he had not seen any KLA communications to mention executions or liquidations of “collaborators” or “traitors of the nation”.
However, Duncan admitted that he had encountered other KLA communications, which he received through Gdom, the International Red Cross or the press, describing the KLA as a structured organization and the future of Kosovo.
Asked if Hashim Thaci was KLA Commander-in-Chief, Duncan said that “No, I have not seen any evidence, no evidence of this thing. ”
He added that he had no confidence that Thaci could persuade the KLA soldiers and that there was no political legitimacy in a democratic society.
“Thaci was not chosen by the people. He had declared a temporary government but did not represent Kosovo’s political reality at the time”Duncan said.
The trial has entered the stage of presenting evidence from the defense, which began on September 15, 2025 with the testimony of former US Secretary of State James Rubin. After him, the former legal adviser to the Albanian delegation in Rambouillet, Paul Williams, testified, while Duncan began testifying on September 22.
In support of former KLAs, on September 14, a mass protest was held in The Hague, attended by citizens from all Albanian lands and numerous migrants. The litigation is expected to last in the coming days.
