Indictments for serious crimes committed by the KLA will not be raised for at least another year, Belgrade-based daily Blic reports today.
"There will not be indictments for at least a year, that is, until Belgrade-Pristina negotiations in Brussels have been completed," an unnamed source, "close to Pristina authorities," is quoted as telling this newspaper.
Specialist Prosecution for war crimes committed in Kosovo is aware the public impatiently awaits raising of first indictments, which would be done when evidences and circumstances necessary to fulfill the highest standards of the international legal practice allow it, the Spokesperson of the Specialist Prosecution Christopher Bennett told Tanjug news agency.
According to him, aiming to protect the right, privacy and security of all those the indictments could have an impact on, including victims and indicted, all decisions are to be made after full and careful data examination.
Chairperson of the Serbian Government Commission for Missing Persons, Veljko Odalovic told Tanjug news agency he expects that the Special Court for KLA war crimes would rise indictments, as per evidences delivered to it, for the crimes committed against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.
UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres is “concerned” over indicators of deterioration of Belgrade-Pristina relations, in particular following arrest of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Marko Djuric, KIM Radio reported.
According to KIM Radio, Gutteres termed “as concerning the conduct of Kosovo police during that action.”
UN Head also urged both sides to avoid inflammatory statements, it was said in a quarterly report.
Only three persons have returned to Kosovo in the last three months, KIM Radio further said.
David Schwendiman, a seasoned US attorney and war crimes expert, is being forced to step down as the Specialist Prosecutor (SP) at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office.
There is no certain answer to the question if the Special Court would invite Hashim Thaci, neither in Pristina nor in Belgrade as first indictments, according to speculations, are expected in the next couple of months, Serbian national broadcaster RTS reports on its website.
An assumption is that the focus of prosecution would be on command responsibility.
Kosovo's president on Monday accused the international community of not keeping its end of the bargain after the country created an unpopular war crimes court to prosecute ethnic Albanians in cases linked to Kosovo's war.
Hashim Thaci said among the things that international officials promised in return were to fast-track Kosovo for European Union and UNESCO membership and visa liberalization, and allow Kosovo to form a military.
The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, spoke today at the panel, organized by Integra, CPT and PAX NGOs on “Public perception of Kosovo’s Special Court: dangers and possibilities.” He said that Kosovo demonstrated more loyalty but it was punished the most.
“The Special Court is hybrid. Files were submitted by Belgrade. The Special Court will be considering raised allegations,’ he said.
Sputnik daily reported, quoting reliable sources, that in addition to the crimes Daut Haradinaj has committed while in KLA uniform, he could be hold responsible for connections with Al-Qaida and DAESH.
The name of Daut Haradinaj, brother of the current nominee to form the Kosovo Government, Ramush Haradinaj, would be on the first indictment of the Special Court for KLA crimes, Sputnik claims.