The Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly, Dimal Basha, addressed the controversy regarding a publication critical of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), in which he was listed as a co-author. Basha apologized, stressing that he never read the article, even though it was published 13 years ago, and clarified that his responsibility extended only to Chapter 3.
He explained that the article was produced while he was a student in 2012 and that he believed his contribution would be published independently, not as part of a collective work containing controversial content.
“This happened in 2012 when I was a student. The author clarified that only Chapter 3 was mine — the area of my studies and expertise. I have never conducted academic work in other fields. I submitted my chapter believing it would be published separately, not as part of a joint article. At no point would I have agreed to co-author a text that speaks in such a way about the KLA,” Basha stated.
Basha admitted he had been careless and inattentive at the time and formally apologized.
“I never knew it would be published under joint authorship. I never read the article — the first time I actually read it was when it resurfaced recently. I admit I was negligent, careless, and inattentive. I should have been more cautious. If I had read it at the time, I would have reacted immediately and never allowed my name to remain there for 13 years,” he said.
The Speaker also confirmed that he has already requested the article be removed entirely, including both his chapter and his name.
“I have sent an email requesting that both my chapter and my name be withdrawn from the publication,” Basha added.
