The Assembly of Albania today issued a draft declaration on the judgment of the Specialist Chambers in The Hague against former Kosova Liberation Army leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.

The joint draft declaration by the parliamentary majority and opposition expresses deep indignation and complete disagreement with a decision it considers deeply unjust toward the four former leaders.

The Assembly commits to denouncing, in all international forums, the crimes of Slobodan Milosevic’s Serbian regime in Kosova, including genocidal acts, war crimes and sexual violence during the war. It also commits to seeking justice for the victims and condemning the lack of engagement by Serbian authorities in uncovering these crimes, establishing responsibility and ensuring justice for the victims.

In addition, the Assembly commits to coordinating its actions with the Assembly of Kosova. It calls on the two governments to coordinate their actions as well, with the aim of correcting this injustice through institutional channels.

Full draft declaration of the Assembly of Albania:

The Assembly of Albania expresses its deep indignation and complete disagreement with a decision that it considers deeply unjust toward Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.

The Assembly of Albania reiterates a historical truth that cannot be relativized: the war of the Kosova Liberation Army was a war for the freedom and liberation of Kosova. It was the war of a people to end repression, violence and persecution and to gain the right to live freely in their own country. It emerged as a response to the systematic repression, violence, ethnic cleansing and genocide carried out by the regime of Slobodan Milošević.

Without the war and sacrifice of the Kosova Liberation Army against the bloody Serbian occupation, the history of the liberation of Kosova cannot be understood. The Kosova Liberation Army was a decisive force in the resistance of the people of Kosova and in the path that led to its liberation, freedom and independence. Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi are inseparable from this history, from the struggle for liberation and from Kosova’s journey toward freedom, independence and statehood.

A judgment cannot rewrite the history of a people. It cannot undo the liberating character of the war in Kosova or equate the aggressor with the victim. It cannot undo the sacrifice of the Kosova Liberation Army.

The Assembly expresses its deep concern about double standards in dealing with the region’s bloody past. Public and state honors granted to persons convicted of war crimes, as well as the glorification of figures linked to genocide and ethnic cleansing, including Ratko Mladic, undermine the memory of the victims, hinder reconciliation and run counter to European values.

The Assembly stands against any attempt by Serbia and Russia to politically instrumentalize this process, to relativize the crimes of the Milošsvic regime and to delegitimize the liberation war, independence and statehood of Kosova.

The Assembly of Albania stands in full solidarity with Kosova, its people and its institutions, as well as alongside Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi and their families.

Our conviction in their innocence remains unwavering, and so does the historical truth: the Kosova Liberation Army fought for the freedom and liberation of Kosova.

This judgment is not the final word. The Assembly expects all legal remedies and further stages of the proceedings to be pursued to the end, ensuring full respect for due process standards.

The Assembly of Albania commits to denouncing, in all international forums, the crimes of Slobodan Milošević’s Serbian regime in Kosova, including genocidal acts, war crimes and sexual violence during the war; seeking justice for the victims and condemning the lack of engagement by Serbian authorities in uncovering these crimes, establishing responsibility and ensuring justice for the victims.

The Assembly will coordinate its actions with the Assembly of Kosova and calls on the two governments to coordinate their actions as well, with the aim of correcting this injustice through institutional channels.

/a.p./