Former U.S. Special Envoy to Kosovo during the war, Christopher Hill, concluded his three-day testimony before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, in the trial against former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA/UÇK).
Before leaving, Hill remarked humorously: “This has been a very interesting experience.”
On Wednesday, he was questioned by the panel of judges of the Special Court.
At the start of the session, Hashim Thaçi’s defense lawyer, Luka Mishetić, asked why Hill had agreed to testify. Hill responded that he felt compelled to share what he knew because he never believed — nor had he ever heard — that Thaçi ordered any illegal activities during the war.
When questioned by Jakup Krasniqi’s defense, Hill said he did not believe Krasniqi had been one of the top figures within the KLA.
Throughout his testimony, Hill discussed Thaçi’s role in the KLA and developments during the Rambouillet negotiations. The American diplomat emphasized that, in his assessment, Thaçi was not a key decision-maker within the KLA, noting that during the Rambouillet talks, Thaçi often had to consult with other members before making any decisions.
When asked by the judges whether the KLA had a clear organizational structure, Hill stated that, in his view, the KLA lacked a well-defined hierarchy, though there had been efforts to present it as a structured organization to the international community — particularly to the United States.
Hill also reflected on his meetings with Slobodan Milošević, whom he described as “the butcher of the Balkans.”
He said Milošević had been frustrated that the U.S. was supporting the KLA while sidelining the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). Hill added that the Rambouillet Agreement shattered Milošević’s claim that Albanians could never unite around a common goal.
In closing, Hill reiterated that Hashim Thaçi was not among the founders of the KLA, and that he had no information linking the former president to any illegal activities or human rights violations.
