Defense witness Paul Williams, who served as an advisor to the Kosovar delegation at Rambouillet, testified that Hashim Tha\u00e7i was reporting to local commanders and that he was \u201ccontrolled from outside.\u201d Speaking at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, Williams stated that during the delegation\u2019s stay at the Rambouillet castle, Tha\u00e7i was under \u201cpressure and ideological influence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tha\u00e7i\u2019s defense lawyer, Luka Miseti\u0107, presented a document suggesting that \u201cTha\u00e7i was controlled from outside.\u201d Williams confirmed that he had observed this through Tha\u00e7i\u2019s constant phone calls during the negotiations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe basis for this conclusion [that Tha\u00e7i was controlled from outside] are several factors\u2014numerous conversations through phone calls that Hashim Tha\u00e7i made with people outside the castle. His phone rang continuously, often forcing him to step outside or move to a corner of the room. You could also read it in his gestures or demeanor. It gave the impression that someone was partially controlling the negotiations,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n
He added that his impression was that \u201cTha\u00e7i did not have full control over the negotiations and that he represented outside interests.\u201d Williams emphasized that Tha\u00e7i was \u201cthe representative and voice of the KLA\u201d within the delegation.<\/p>\n
Miseti\u0107 asked whether Tha\u00e7i reported\u2014or even subordinated himself\u2014to local commanders. Williams replied:<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, that is also how I recall it\u2026 They called him, he answered, they spoke for some time, and afterward he would comment on the process, giving feedback. That\u2019s why I said he reported to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although Williams did not speak Albanian, he said Kosovar colleagues told him that Tha\u00e7i was speaking with local KLA commanders. He recalled that Blerim Shala, among others, had confirmed this to him.<\/p>\n
The defense also raised Tha\u00e7i\u2019s trip to Slovenia during the Rambouillet talks, where he visited Adem Dema\u00e7i. Williams testified that this reflected \u201cideological and cultural pressure\u201d from Dema\u00e7i, who opposed progress in the talks, particularly regarding the issue of independence.<\/p>\n
Williams further testified that he had drafted a proposal for the Kosovar delegation concerning investigations and prosecutions of war crimes, ensuring the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) would have jurisdiction. He stated that Tha\u00e7i was aware that cooperation with the ICTY would include potential investigations of the KLA.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Hashim Tha\u00e7i was fully aware,\u201d Williams said. \u201cHe accepted it, saying it also reflected what interested them.\u201d He explained that both he and international legal adviser Marc Weller worked with the delegation to prepare inclusive legal language and to ensure that ICTY responsibilities were clearly incorporated into the negotiation framework.<\/p>\n
Williams also clarified that Veton Surroi, another member of the delegation, had never told him, nor given any impression, that he felt threatened by Tha\u00e7i or others.<\/p>\n
Williams\u2019 testimony began today and is expected to last a day and a half. Tha\u00e7i\u2019s defense has scheduled two hours, the other defense teams two and a half hours, and the prosecution (SPO) another two and a half hours.<\/p>\n
This is the second defense witness in the trial of former KLA leaders, who are accused of alleged war crimes. Tha\u00e7i\u2019s defense argues that Williams\u2019 testimony will show that \u201cTha\u00e7i did not have the authority to sign the Rambouillet Agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Defense witness Paul Williams, who served as an advisor to the Kosovar delegation at Rambouillet, testified that Hashim Tha\u00e7i was reporting to local commanders and that he was \u201ccontrolled from outside.\u201d Speaking at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, Williams stated that during the delegation\u2019s stay at the Rambouillet castle, Tha\u00e7i was under \u201cpressure […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":80329,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[163,1803],"tags":[150,243,151],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n