Paul Williams, a U.S.-based international law expert who testified for Hashim Thaçi’s defence in The Hague, has criticised the verdict against the former KLA leaders and called for steps to dismantle the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.
In an interview with journalist Keida Kostreci, Williams also discussed the potential role of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, arguing that Washington has not paid sufficient attention to the proceedings.
Williams said he was surprised that the U.S. government could take such a strong position against the International Criminal Court while, in his view, paying little attention to the Specialist Chambers’ proceedings involving one of its key regional allies.
He argued that Kosovo had first been a direct victim of wartime crimes and is now, in his view, a political victim of the tribunal.
Williams said that if the U.S. administration recognised the potential impact of the case on regional stability, American officials could work with Kosovo on steps aimed at dismantling the tribunal.
He suggested that increased attention from the Albanian-American community could also prompt Washington to reconsider the issue.
According to Williams, the U.S. administration could take “effective steps within hours” if it focused on what he described as the tribunal’s potentially destabilising impact on the region. He argued that Washington could cooperate with Kosovo to dismantle the Specialist Chambers, restore what he called a proper process of addressing victims’ suffering, and promote stability in the region.
Williams’ comments represent his own assessment and proposal regarding the tribunal and the U.S. role; they do not indicate that the U.S. administration has announced such a policy.
