Ambassadors of the US, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy, and the EU special representative reiterated today in Prizren that if Kosovo authorities fail to establish the special court, this competency will then be transferred to the United Nations. They added that the special court will benefit Kosovo and its future.

The US Ambassador, Tracey Ann Jacobson, said the special court would not try Kosovo’s liberation war and its history while the British Ambassador, Ian Cliff, said that if the Kosovo Assembly fails to vote in favour of creating the special court, this will unavoidably be referred to the UN Security Council under the Resolution 1244. “There would be no big pressure for the UN to set up a court because permanent Security Council members, including us, would have no reason to refuse such a thing,” said Cliff.

German Ambassador Angelika Viets said that the EU and Kosovo jointly decided to set up the special court and this will be a good thing for Kosovo. She said it is important not to aim at renegotiating the special court’s establishment. “The current discussion is dangerous for Kosovo’s image as a serious partner,” Viets pointed out. At the same time, the Dutch Ambassador, Robert Bosch, he said a UN-led court would not be very advantageous for Kosovo. “At least you would have a court that is not of United Nations because there are countries there that are not very friendly to you and are quite influential,” said Bosch to the students of University of Pristina. Italian Ambassador Andreas Ferrarese also said that the failure to establish the special court would damage Kosovo’s international image.

The EU Special Representative, Samuel Zhbogar, said the special court would finally clean Kosovo’s image because, individuals and not the country should be tried of possible wrongdoings. “We expect Kosovo authorities to treat this issue with priority,” said Zbogar.