In an interview for Voice of America, the former US diplomat and Balkans expert, James Hooper, said that the report of the US prosecutor, Clint Williamson, is linked more to Kosovo’s future than its past. Hooper, currently managing director of the Washington-based Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG) said that the report doesn’t damage the KLA image but deals with certain individuals who used their position to gain political power after the war.
“Something that the report strongly refers to are the current problems such as witness intimidation carried out by people who are most likely going to be indicted. As Mr. Williamson said, these people continue to intimidate witnesses by perverting the course of justice in Kosovo. It is important this is understood”, said Hooper.
“Ambassador Williamson is an extraordinary prosecutor, a man with high integrity. He fully supports independence of Kosovo and is not questioning it. This case is about certain individuals who used their position to gain political power after the war and to seek political gains from this power. So this issue is not about Kosovo’s capability to be an independent country because this is already settled. It has to do with the capacity of the new country to be a place where rule of law is respected”, said Hooper. He said he believed majority of the Kosovo society is ready to face this problem.
