Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Presidium member Enver Hoxhaj has called for Kosovo’s political leadership to come together and assess how the country should respond to the first-instance convictions of former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.
Hoxhaj said he was prepared to sign an initiative seeking the dissolution of the Specialist Chambers, but argued that such a step should involve all political parties.
“If the decision of the PDK and other political entities is to take such actions, my signature will be the first for the dissolution of this Court,” Hoxhaj said in an interview with KTV.
He said Kosovo’s political leadership should also develop a broader strategy for dealing with what he described as a “new reality” created by the verdict.
Beyond the question of the court’s future, Hoxhaj said Kosovo should assess how Serbia might use the verdict in its foreign policy.
“The issue is how this Court will be used by Serbia. I am sure that Serbia will begin some policy of derecognition of Kosovo or blocking it in international organizations,” Hoxhaj said.
He called for Kosovo’s political leaders to discuss the country’s international positioning and prepare for the appeal proceedings.
“We need to talk internally, as a political leadership, about how we should reposition Kosovo in relation to today’s decision. We need to prepare so that on appeal this issue is resolved in Kosovo’s favor,” he said.
Hoxhaj reiterated that any initiative concerning the dissolution of the Specialist Chambers should be supported across the political spectrum.
The Specialist Chambers sentenced former KLA leaders Hashim Thaçi and Jakup Krasniqi to 25 years in prison each, Kadri Veseli to 18 years and Rexhep Selimi to 13 years.
The four were convicted at first instance of several war crimes, including unlawful or arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, torture and murder. The verdicts remain subject to appeal.
