The Special War Crimes Court will not bring justice to all victims of the war in Kosovo, says the director of the Humanitarian Law Center in Pristina, Bekim Blakaj.
Bekim Blakaj expects the first indictments before the Special War Crimes Court in the fall. He points out that expectations are high, but he fears that many victims of war who are waiting for justice for 18 years, and whose all hopes lie in this court will not be satisfied, KIM radio reported today.
– The Special Court will raise several indictments, it will be operational for five years and the mandate may be extended for another five years. I do not expect that all crimes will be processed in ten years. The practice of the Hague Tribunal shows that these cases last for quite a long time, it requires a lot of judges and prosecutors to work, and this court will not have such a capacity. We can expect ten or fifteen indictments or cases, but the number of victims is too great and unfortunately, most will be left without served justice, Blakaj said.
Blakaj said that the Humanitarian Law Center recommended the institutions to form a war crimes court in Kosovo that will not be temporary, than it would prosecute many cases in the coming years.
– Perhaps in this way, a greater number of victims would receive justice. With a court that is temporary, ad hoc, I do not feel that much will be done, but it is important that perpetrators of at least some crimes are charged and condemned.
