The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed the indictment issued against Kadri Veseli, the PDK chairman, Kadri Veseli himself announced at a press conference, Pristina-based Koha reported today.
Veseli revealed that he was informed about this on Wednesday, adding that he would be traveling to The Hague voluntarily. He, however, did not specify when exactly that will happen.
The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office announced in April that an indictment has been issued against Veseli „and other persons,“ including Kosovo President Hashim Thaci.
They have been charged with a range of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, enforced disappearance of persons, persecution, and torture. The announcement on the indictment – which was published by the prosecution before the indictment was even confirmed – states that Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, and other suspects are responsible for almost 100 murders. The victims of the crimes mentioned in the indictment include hundreds of people whose identities are known, including Kosovo Albanians, Serbs, Roma, and people of other nationalities, as well as political opponents.
The court was unavoidable
Veseli said that the court was unavoidable, adding that he does not believe its work is directed against Kosovo.
„It was unavoidable that this day would come ever since Dick Marty published his unfounded report. It was unavoidable that his unjust accusations would be investigated in a court to end it once and for all. That is why I supported the establishment of this court and that is why I am now ready to play my role in this process,“ he said, Koha reported.
„More than twenty years have passed since the end of the liberation war. Kosovo is now an independent state and is on a definite road to becoming a member of the United Nations. As we strive to be treated as equal partners with other states, our political leaders must endure this challenge and act as statesmen of international caliber. When certain leaders are called upon to cooperate with an international tribunal, we must do so without hesitation. Even if there are accusations against us, they must be answered precisely and with the true facts,“ he said, Koha writes.
According to Veseli, the Specialist Chambers are the last step towards the completion of the state of Kosovo. He also alleged that the KLA waged a just and unequal war, adding that if some individuals made mistakes in that war, they must be held accountable for them.
„Without formal structures to protect the civilian population from a carefully planned genocidal military massacre by Serb forces. Today, in honor and memory of more than 10,000 innocent victims of the Milosevic regime, we must stand up and tell our story. I’ll stand up to tell my story. We have to stand up to tell their story. We have to clarify all the facts, so that history knows the truth,“ he said.
The KPO also accused Veseli and Thaci of obstructing the work of the court, thus justifying the unusual method of publishing an announcement of a war crimes indictment even before the indictment was confirmed.
This is the fourth indictment confirmed by the KPO. Previously, an indictment issued against Salih Mustafa for torturing at least six and killing one person in the KLA prison in Zlas had been confirmed. Mustafa pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Another former chairman of the Kosovo Assembly, Jakup Krasniqi was arrested in Pristina yesterday. The indictment against him has been confirmed, however, the details on the crimes he has been accused of remain unknown.
Also, the head of the parliamentary group Self-Determination, Rexhep Selimi revealed that an indictment against him has been confirmed, however, the details of this indictment are unknown as well. He voluntarily traveled to The Hague this morning.
Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj, the president and vice-president of the Association of KLA War Veterans, are in custody in The Hague – also awaiting indictments by the KPO. However, they have not been charged with war crimes, but crimes against justice, related to the leak of confidential information from the Prosecutor’s Office.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
