Reactions of Serb officials on Specialist Court initiative (RTS, Tanjug, Novosti, TV Palma, KIM Radio)
Chairperson of Serbian Assembly Committee for Kosovo and Metohija, Milovan Drecun commenting on an initiative to repeal or revoke the Law on Special Court for the War Crimes told RTS “it is about a well-thought plan, which, although it was clear would not pass, should serve as a message that the situation in Kosovo could destabilize if Kadri Veseli, Hashim Thaci and other KLA leaders found themselves on indictments of the court.”
“Thaci has thrown down the gauntlet in the face of Washington and Brussels. This is a political slapping of the USA beforehand as it speaks that those who have made this law, now want to give it up,” Drecun said.
Serbian Defence Minister, Aleksandar Vulin told RTS if the court that has not even started yet to operate is revoked, his stance is that Serbia should stop the negotiations with Pristina.
“This is my stance, to stop negotiations if they are not able to carry out this small civilized obligation. A small, civilized obligations to prosecute those who have committed crimes against human beings in Kosovo and Metohija,” Vulin said.
Kosovo Minister for Communities and Returns, Dalibor Jevtic told TV Palma, Srpska Lista is against the initiative to revoke the Law on Specialist Court.
According to Jevtic there is a need that Specialist Court prosecute and punish all those who have committed crimes, and that all what still remain without answer should get an answer.
“The job of us, political representatives of Serbs in Kosovo, together with the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the Government of the Republic of Serbia, is to do our utmost to protect our people and any our future move would be directed toward it, respectively toward prevention of any kind of violence against Serbs.”
He also added, he expects from the Kosovo institutions and representatives of the international community to do everything to prevent that dissatisfaction, in a negative way, is directed against the Serb population, Serbian media reported.
Meanwhile, political analyst Dusan Janjic said the attempt to repeal the Law on the Specialist Court for the War Crimes in Kosovo is “a fear of people in the Kosovo Assembly of criminal responsibility,” KIM Radio reported.
Janjic said that with this move “leaders of Kosovo” let down the international community and made a suicidal move.
“In fact, no one sponsoring the independence of Kosovo was informed about this initiative. Why is this a serious blow to the EU and the USA? Because during all this time, as the main argument for their support to the Albanians they are using the violation of their human rights, as well as their success in creating a state that is democratic and respects the human rights. I think this would have a long-term consequences for Kosovo and this would lead toward some sort of a mild isolation of Kosovo and very strict monitoring of behaviour of the people in power in Kosovo,” Janjic said, adding if the repeal would happen this would be an attack on the international judiciary for the war crimes.
Commenting on the Serbian Defence Minister, Aleksandar Vulin statement the negotiations with Pristina should stop if the law is revoked, Janjic said that you cannot negotiate with those “who break the agreement with their own personal powerful sponsors.”
“I think Serbia strengthens its position in this situation and it should not deal that much with the problems Hashim Thaci and Ramush Haradinaj made to themselves. At this moment, Serbia should speak the opposite. This is the proof that Serbia participates and is ready for the dialogue, but you cannot have a dialogue with those who do not respect their obligations, Janjic concluded.