It has been five years since the trial of former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army in The Hague, based on alleged evidence. During this time, in addition to prosecution witnesses who have confessed to individual problems, attributing them to the Kosovo Liberation Army, the court has recently also received evidence from Serbia.
Meanwhile, the defense has provided diplomats who represent the most credible and powerful American institutions, and at the time the KLA four were being accused, the same ones were part of the processes.
The first witness for Hashim Thaçi's defense, former US Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin, during his three-day testimony described this indictment as baseless. Rubin stated that keeping the accused in custody for more than five years is unfair, since they have voluntarily surrendered and cooperated with justice. He described this situation as a political issue and not as genuine justice.
In his testimony, Rubin Rubin accurately described the structure of the KLA, which he called a guerrilla organization. He explained that the KLA did not have a centralized command or a structured organization in the field. While expressing criticism and skepticism towards the prosecution, regarding a five-year process and prolonged detention as a political battle, he recalled that Kosovo itself had created this court while former KLA leaders had resigned from their positions for this trial.
He answered questions about the Rambouillet process with particular emphasis, where he said that Hashim Thaçi had a primarily political role and that he had to obtain the approval of his commanders for every important military decision. His entire testimony was counter-argumentative to the prosecution's indictment.
Following the defense testimony, Paul Williams emphasized that the Kosovo Liberation Army had a rural-based structure and was not based on rules. Referring to Rambouillet, Williams said that Thaçi and the entire Kosovo delegation demanded independence.
John Duncan, who during the war in Kosovo was an advisor to the Commander of NATO Forces, General Wesley Clark, also spoke about the KLA in the courtroom.
The KLA was also made up of women, some of whom were survivors of sexual violence, and he explained that he had seen no evidence or proof that Thaçi had exercised the function of the General Commander of the KLA, nor that he had given orders or directives. Responding to the defense, in his testimony he reconfirmed that he had not seen any real hierarchical structures in the KLA. Duncan emphasized that there was Serbian propaganda that tried with every effort to smear the KLA.
The other witness, James Covey, who was Kouchner's deputy, testified that Thaçi had condemned violence against ethnic minorities. Covey said he had not seen any orders or reports issued by Thaçi. What was said about Thaçi, according to him, came from people with experience in military service and he described Thaçi as an ambitious guy, mainly as a link to the KLA.
All of these statements by diplomats in the courtroom were followed with attention by Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi as they talked about the KLA and themselves.
While other defense witnesses, former allies of Kosovo, are expected to testify in the special court, in the last session, Hashim Thaçi's lawyer, Luka Misetic, announced that the defense will not be able to conclude their case on November 14 as determined by the trial panel, nor will they be able to submit their file on December 22.
In the public announcements of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, the date for the next witness has been set for October 27th at the usual time for holding hearings./rtk
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