Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the legal proceedings against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague have not concluded, expressing hope that the appeals process will address what he described as “injustices and shortcomings” in the first-instance judgment.
Kurti made the remarks following a meeting with Dame Karen Pierce, the United Kingdom’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans.
According to Kurti, the two discussed political and security developments, Kosovo-Serbia relations, the situation of Albanians in the Preševo Valley, and Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic perspective.
Kurti said he thanked Pierce for the UK’s position against the glorification of individuals convicted of war crimes and praised what he described as Britain’s continued support for Kosovo’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
The Kosovo prime minister also addressed the first-instance convictions of former KLA leaders.
“I expressed concern over the severe and unjust sentences against former KLA leaders at the first instance of the Specialist Chambers. The process is not over, and we expect the appeal to address the injustices and shortcomings of this judgment,” Kurti said.
The first-instance judgment was delivered on September 16 against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. Kurti has previously called the ruling unjust and said it should be challenged through the appeals process.
Kurti said Kosovo and the United Kingdom share historical ties as well as a common Euro-Atlantic outlook. He added that Kosovo’s efforts to join the Council of Europe, obtain EU candidate status and deepen cooperation with Britain in security and defense were also discussed during the meeting.
The Kosovo government has said it will continue to support the convicted former KLA leaders during the appeals proceedings. The first-instance judgment remains subject to appeal.
Kurti also said he congratulated Pierce in advance on her birthday, which falls the following day, and presented her with a gift from Kosovo.
