TIRANA – “Nobody can rewrite the history of Kosovo! I remain full of hope that the coming days will be the best for Kosovo and Albania.” This was the first reaction of Kosovo President Hashim Thaci on Friday after he was charged with war crimes linked to the 1990s conflict with Serbia by special prosecutors in The Hague.
Thaci said on Facebook he had landed in the Albanian capital Tirana and was on his way back to Kosovo where he will address his compatriots on Sunday. He accused international justice of “rewriting history” after he was charged with war crimes.
Thaci who had already left for Washington and was in Austria when the charges against him were announced, landed at Tirana International Airport in Albania from where he announced the withdrawal from the White House meeting with Serb President Aleksander Vucic on June 27 which was mediated by US senior diplomatic envoy Grenell.
In the FB message to his “sisters, brothers and wonderful friends,” Thaci, 52, said he would “address (them) on Sunday evening” from his office.
Thaci was the former political leader of the ethnic Albanian guerillas — the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) — which launched a rebellion against Belgrade more than 20 years ago when Kosovo was a southern province of Serbia.
On Wednesday, special prosecutors at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague accused Thaci and others of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the 1998-99 war.
Until now Thaci’s only visible reaction was an update of the cover photo of his Facebook profile to feature the crest of the KLA.
Thaci has previously said he would comply with the court and that he is innocent and has “nothing to hide.”
The president and other suspects are accused of murder, enforced disappearance, persecution and torture against “hundreds of known victims of Kosovo Albanian, Serb, Roma, and other ethnicities and include political opponents.”
The charges still need approval from a pre-trial judge but the prosecutors said they made the news public because Thaci and others have been trying to “obstruct the work” of the tribunal, which operates under Kosovo law but has international judges.
Kosovo proclaimed independence in 2008, but Serbia still does not recognize the move.
Asked about Thaci’s draft indictment, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in Brussels that Belgrade has been very “cautious” and showed restraint in reacting to avoid fueling tensions over the issue.
“We know that horrific crimes against Serbs took place, and in that sense it is good that there is justice,” Vucic said.
In the meantime the Kosovo PM on Thursday canceled his plans to attend a White House meeting with leaders of Serbia following Thaci’s indictment. Hoti said as quoted by VoA that he informed US presidential envoy Richard Grenell of his decision, which is likely to torpedo the talks. Grenell expected Hoti to fill in for Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and co-lead the talks with Serbian President Vucic.
The White House meeting on Saturday was to be the first talks between Serbia and Kosovo in 19 months. Hoti met Thursday in Brussels with European Council President Charles Michel to talk about visa rules, the coronavirus impact and other issues. /argumentum.al
