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Smajlovic: Witnesses are main problem with Haradinaj (RTS)

Ramush Haradinaj would face The Hague Court for the third time and it remains unknown if an indictment against him would be raised RTS reports today. Journalist Ljiljana Smajlovic said the witnesses are still the main problem when it comes to Haradinaj. “Witnesses are the main problem with Haradinaj, they were afraid earlier to talk about KLA existence and let alone the crimes,” Smajlovic told RTS morning news edition. She also spoke about double standards, noting that Serbia had to open all its archives and its every step in the European integration was conditioned by the cooperation with The Hague, while it is not the case with Pristina. According to her it is not only about the attitude of the international community towards Kosovo, but towards Albania as well, given that the “Yellow House” is located there and nobody requested excavations to be done in that part of Albania. She added the Specialist Chambers, comparing to the previous Hague Tribunal, have the authority to investigate the crimes committed until the end of 1999. “KLA was previously charged with the crimes that took place prior to the NATO bombing, and this court can investigate the crimes committed during and after the bombing, but also after NATO’s arrival,” Smajlovic said. Commenting on possible elections in Kosovo, Smajlovic said one should wait to see if Haradinaj would be indicted at all, and if elections happen, he may only profit. “Chances that something could change in Kosovo are slim, because Haradinaj only reinforced his base and presented himself as a guardian of the Kosovo interests,” Smajlovic concluded.