Former KLA political head endorses war crimes court in Kosovo

Kosovo's foreign minister, and former head of the Kosovo Liberation Army's political wing, Hashim Thaci, endorsed the establishment of a war crimes court to investigate crimes committed by the KLA during the 1990s conflict with Serbia.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, published on Tuesday, Mr Thaci, he had “nothing to hide” and would cooperate with the court “in any circumstance and any form needed”.

“I very much hope that no one will try to rewrite history, to try to draw parallels or equate the genocide perpetrated by Serbia with individual acts of some desperate citizens,” Mr Thaci told the WSJ. See here for more.

A European Union task force concluded after an analysis undertaken last year that there was sufficient evidence to charge senior members of the KLA for unlawful killing, sexual violence, illegal detention camps and abductions, as well as "compelling indications" that organs were harvested from Serbian prisoners.

The European Union had made the establishment of a special court to investigate alleged war crimes by the KLA as a key demand aimed at rectifying Kosovo's rule of law, prior to joining the EU.

Earlier this month, Kosovo’s parliament amended its constitution to allow the creation of a special court.

The tribunal will be part of Kosovo’s judicial system however the proceedings will be held abroad. Early reports suggest that they will be held in the Netherlands. See here.

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