UNMIK (UN), EULEX (EU) and their standards (Zeri)
Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) Bilall Sherifi in an opinion piece published in Zeri and several online media writes that since the end of the conflict in Kosovo, prosecution of war crimes was an exclusive competency of international missions in Kosovo. Initially, it was UNMIK that investigated and tried war crimes until 2008 when this responsibility was handed over to EULEX. Sherifi alleges that the recent trial and verdict of members of the so-called Drenica Group led entirely by EULEX was characterized by irregularities and based on testimonies of a witness who did not know the identity of the victim or the burial place. Only months ago, many would find it impossible to believe that such “irregularities” could occur in a case led by EULEX whose members come from countries with high judicial standards. “After all this the question is: should be continue to believe that they will serve justice better than us,” writes Sherifi adding that there is no reason to believe that the special court will be different from other international missions in Kosovo. As a result, Sherifi calls on all Kosovo Assembly members to unanimously say no to the establishment of specialized chambers or risk favouring many injustices against Kosovo.