Serbia is arresting any Albanian who fought in the KLA and is crossing its borders.
This happened with four Kosovar citizens, who are currently detained in Serbia on war crimes charges: Nezir Mehmetaj, Hasan Dakaj, Sadik Duraku, and Tefik Mustafa.
Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, said on Monday that she had requested through a letter last week to her Serbian counterpart the transfer of the Kosovar citizens being held in detention in Serbia.
“As you know, such claims and any subsequent legal actions are exclusively related to the jurisdiction of the country where these alleged acts occurred. In this regard, Nezir Mehmetaj, Hasan Dakaj, Sadik Duraku, and Tefik Mustafa should be returned to the Republic of Kosovo to be tried fairly and impartially by the authority endowed with jurisdiction recognized by international public law,” Haxhiu wrote in a letter to the Serbian Minister of Justice, Maja Popović, on June 28, 2024.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti also supported this request, stating that this action is in the spirit of good neighborly relations and according to the Basic Agreement on the Normalization of Relations between the two countries.
“In the spirit of good neighborly relations, according to the Basic Agreement on the Normalization of Relations between Kosovo and Serbia, declared legally binding by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, our Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, addressed the Serbian Minister of Justice for the transfer to the Republic of Kosovo of the four Albanian prisoners in Serbia.
Nezir Mehmetaj, Hasan Dakaj, Sadik Duraku, and Tefik Mustafa are in Serbian prisons on allegations of crimes committed during the war in Kosovo.
The Republic of Kosovo has internationally recognized jurisdiction over acts committed within its territory. As a democratic state that protects and ensures human rights beyond European standards, our republic will ensure independent and impartial treatment of any claims raised against its citizens.”
Curri: Serbia will not transfer the citizens according to the minister’s request
Lawyer Agron Curri told “Bota Sot” that the minister is right in this request, but that Serbia has never cooperated and will not cooperate in this case either.
“The minister is fully within her rights as a minister to request the transfer of Kosovar citizens who are detained in other countries on suspicion of committing any criminal act.
Serbia, even in other cases for political reasons, does not cooperate with the Republic of Kosovo nor does it offer international legal assistance.
I think that even in this case they will not cooperate and will not transfer the citizens according to the minister’s request,” he declares.
Burjani: Even warring parties maintain some forms of communication
Like lawyer Curri, jurist Blerim Burjani also says that Serbia is uninterested in this issue and that there will be no agreement for a transfer.
He adds that Serbia does not communicate with Kosovo without the EU, emphasizing that what is happening is abnormal.
“I don’t believe there will be any transfer agreement. If it happens, it would be considered a positive step, even though there might be cooperation on issues not related to politics.
Serbia does not communicate with Kosovo institutions without EU intervention; it does not treat Kosovo institutions equally in communication.
I think there needs to be some form of communication. This lack of interest is not normal; even warring parties maintain some forms of communication,” he concluded for “Bota Sot.”
We recall that last night it was announced that another Kosovar citizen was arrested.
This was announced on Wednesday by the Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs, Ivica Dačić.
In a media statement, the Serbian ministry did not specify the nationality of the detainee but identified him with the initials F.K., 56 years old.
He is suspected of committing “war crimes against members of the Yugoslav army in Košare in May 1999,” according to Dačić.
