The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Elisa Spiropali, reacted this Monday to the latest developments at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, where the Prosecution has submitted sentencing proposals against former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA): Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi.
In her reaction, the Minister expressed deep concern over the length of pre-trial detention and the standards of the proceedings, emphasizing the need for impartial justice, respect for fundamental human rights, and the avoidance of perceptions of double standards in the prosecution of war crimes.
Full statement by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Elisa Spiropali:
“We are following with deep concern today’s developments at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, where the Prosecution presented sentencing proposals against former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi.
The duration of pre-trial detention, which has now exceeded five years without a final verdict, as well as the nature of the charges brought forward, raise serious questions regarding proportionality, due process standards, and respect for fundamental human rights. This situation increasingly fuels the perception of a one-sided severity in the handling of this case, especially when compared to the way those responsible for the repressive apparatus of the Serbian regime have been treated.
Even today, many of the crimes committed by Serbian forces against the civilian population of Kosovo remain unaddressed and without full criminal accountability. This imbalance in the pursuit of justice risks creating a sense of double standards and undermining public trust in international justice.
We believe that international justice must be impartial, balanced, and grounded in indisputable evidence, without creating perceptions of selective treatment of the parties involved in the conflict. Justice perceived as one-sided risks damaging public trust and leaving new wounds in a region that is in need of lasting reconciliation.
The Kosovo Liberation Army was a liberation movement that enjoyed broad support from the international community in confronting a regime that exercised systematic violence, ethnic cleansing, and widely documented crimes against the civilian population. Any judicial process dealing with individuals from that war must carefully preserve the essential distinction between individual criminal responsibility and the historical character of the war for freedom.
The Court today bears a special responsibility to ensure that the process does not allow the language and approach of the Prosecution to unjustly affect the liberation struggle, the history of independence, and the dignity of those who fought for freedom. Only a fair decision, based on evidence and the highest standards of justice, can remove the heavy shadow these positions have cast over the historical memory of a just war.
Albania reaffirms that justice must serve truth and reconciliation, not create narratives that rewrite history or relativize internationally recognized responsibilities for crimes committed during the war in Kosovo.
We emphasize the importance of concluding proceedings within a reasonable timeframe and with full respect for international standards of a fair trial. The future of Kosovo and the stability of the region are built on credible justice that strengthens peace, not perceptions of injustice.
The Republic of Albania will continue to closely follow this process and remains committed to the values of the rule of law, international justice, and the dignity of the liberation struggle of the people of Kosovo.”
