The Colmar Court of Appeals in France has decided to release former Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj. On 4 January of this year, Haradinaj was held by the French police based on a Serbian arrest warrant.
Kosovo Assembly President, Kadri Veseli, took to Facebook to write that cases like this with Hardinaj should not be repeated in the future. “His detention based on an international arrest warrant from Serbia, was unacceptable and such cases should not repeat in the future. I wish Haradinaj warm welcome to his family and country,” Veseli wrote.
Kosovo’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Enver Hoxhaj, also wrote on his Facebook page that Haradinaj’s release is extraordinary news. “The Colmar Court finally proved what was clear to all of us in Kosovo that Ramush Haradinaj is innocent and that he should be released to join his family and Kosovo citizens,” Hoxhaj wrote and expressed gratitude to the French country as well as Kosovo diplomats, for their engagement.
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), has issued a press release which says that Haradinaj’s detention was completely unnecessary and it was Serbia’s open attempt to destabilize Kosovo. This party also informs that they have organized a welcome for Haradinaj at Zahir Pajaziti square tonight at 19:00 hours, when he is expected to address Kosovo people.
Haradinaj stated after the trial that rejection of the request for his extradition to Serbia, is a victory of Albanians.
Albania’s Prime Minister welcomed Haradinaj’s landing as a winner “to our Pristina.”
Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci also wrote on his Facebook page that decision of the Colmar Court is good news for Haradinaj’s family, his partners and the entire Kosovo. “It was proved once again that slander of Serbian services against that Kosovo Liberation Army are unsustainable and are not taken into consideration by the democratic world,” Thaci wrote.
Considering that the Serbian arrest warrants on the basis of which Mr. Haradinaj was detained, are unlawful and unfair, the Kosovo Government considers that the decision of the French Court is confirmation that the right was on Haradinaj’s side and that Serbian arrest warrants against him and other KLA fighters are political and have low intentions.
