In a front-page interview for the paper, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said the establishment of a war crimes tribunal will be an injustice toward Kosovo but added that Parliament nonetheless should vote in favor of its establishment.
Thaci said if Kosovo authorities do not decide on the court, the issue will move to the United Nations Security Council. This scenario, he added, would be devastating for Kosovo because the tribunal would be outside Pristina’s jurisdiction and based outside Kosovo.
“We have only one option and that is to cooperate closely with the United States and the European Union, and establish the special court, which will be under Kosovo’s jurisdiction,” Thaci was quoted as saying. “My suggestion and advice for Members of Parliament is that they should not allow any room for Russia’s aspiration to include the Security Council in the process. This would have disastrous results for Kosovo.”
Asked about the need for a solution on courts in northern Kosovo, Thaci said, “An agreement was reached at the last meeting with Prime Minister Dacic and Deputy Prime Minister Vucic. The Government of Serbia will be formed soon, and the agreement, which has almost been reached, will be announced. Implementation will begin immediately. The solution provides that everything will be in line with the Constitution and laws of Kosovo”.
Thaci said there could be new high-level talks between Pristina and Belgrade before parliamentary elections in Kosovo.
