The former Dutch ambassador to Kosovo, Robert Bosch, has once again publicly reacted to developments surrounding the Specialist Chambers (Special Court) by sharing a critical excerpt from an interview with British professor of international relations, Aidan Hehir. Bosch described Hehir’s words as “wise” and clearly endorsed his sharp criticism of the court.
In a Facebook post, Bosch quoted Professor Hehir as saying that the Special Court is a political project created with the aim of appeasing Serbia and drawing it closer to the West, away from Russian influence.
“The Special Court is a purely political body. It was created for one purpose only: to please Serbia. Major Western powers pressured the government of Kosovo to establish it, despite a lack of public or political support in the country,” reads the excerpt shared by Bosch.
Hehir, and indirectly Bosch, emphasize that the court serves Serbian propaganda, which seeks to equate the KLA’s liberation war with the crimes of the Serbian state.
“Serbia wants to portray the conflict as one in which ‘both sides’ were guilty and to label the KLA as a terrorist organization that targeted Serbian civilians,” the professor adds.
Bosch has previously expressed skepticism about how the international community has handled Kosovo, but by publicly backing Hehir’s stance, he sends a clear message: the Special Court is seen as political injustice that undermines the KLA’s struggle and regional stability.
Hehir also warns of serious consequences if former KLA leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi are found guilty:
“Kosovars rightly feel that their Western allies have turned against them. If Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi, and Krasniqi are convicted, it could lead to social unrest in Kosovo and fuel Serbian nationalism.”
