The Special Court is a painful issue for Albanians, because for the first time they will face an international court which will judge the crimes against Serbs and other non-Albanians, told TV KIM Veljko Odalovic, Chairman of the Commission for Missing Persons of the Government of Serbia.
Odalovic says that Albanians have to understand that Kosovo institutions would not be tried, but the crime that was committed against about 3,500 people.
“Criminals need to be concerned, and if they are in the institutions, let them be worried. Here the aim is not to reassess the government or institutions. The institutions did not exist at the time of the crimes, they (criminals) were in the forests, they were outside the institutions, and they were organized differently. The crimes will be tried and crime is something that absolutely must be sanctioned. Unfortunately the Court in The Hague has made a show out of it and probably Albanians thought that’s it. It is not. One cannot remain silent on so many crimes,” said Odalovic in the TV KIM show.
Veljko Odalovic also said that the Special Court would be one of the instruments in solving the fate of missing Serbs from Kosovo.
During the war, Kosovo was divided into five areas of responsibility that were managed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Odalovic said that he expects the Special Court to address the issue of command responsibility.
Odalovic claims that there are over 300 witnesses who would testify on what they saw, heard or felt most directly during the war in Kosovo.
“There must be serious investigation and the Court is a worry for them, but that’s their problem. They did not face themselves the crimes. It is obvious that Kosovo society is silent and is trying with one resolution (on genocide) to get the ball in another backyard. ”
President of the Commission for Missing expects from the Kosovo Parliament to adopt soon a law on the establishment of the Special Court. “Pristina will have to respond to that law. If they refuse, will face tough measures,” concluded Odalovic.
