The second witness of the defense Paul Williams said Thaci was controlled from the outside and was pressured by local commanders during the Rambouillet negotiations.
While completing the testimony before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, the American lawyer, who was adviser to the Kosovo delegation during negotiations in 1999, said the delegation had about 16 members, while Thaci was elected chairman by a majority vote.
Williams explained that all members of the delegation demanded independence, and they were taken long their conviction of how independence could be achieved without being part of the Rambouillet Agreement.
“Hashim Thaci and all members of the Kosovo delegation and their experts demanded independence, independence was indispensable. I spent a lot of time explaining the way, how they could achieve independence if that word was not included in the Rambouillet Agreement. I have told them that if you come and say I am from Kosovo, independence is the next word.
In the specialized rooms in The Hague, the American lawyer said that the Kosovo Liberation Army was seen as an important dimension of Kosovo’s political composition. Asked if it was a surprise that Ibrahim Rugova as president was not chairman of the delegation from Kosovo, he replied that it was no surprise.
“President Rugova, who was the first person I offered my services and advised through Bujar Bukoshi, respected a lot of conversation with him and he always ended with two words that were ‘independence and non -use of force’. Rugova played an important role in Rambouillet representing the people of Kosovo.
The protection of former KLAs continues on Monday with the third witness.
