KOHA has also provided the letter that the president of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, had sent to the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on November 29, 2019, regarding the attempt to obstruct the work of the Special Court
Thaçi, in this letter, says that he expresses the deep concern of the institutions of Kosovo, regarding the Specialized Chambers of Kosovo and the Office of the Special Prosecutor of Kosovo as part of the Special Judicial Institution located in the Netherlands.
"The institutions of Kosovo are very grateful to the Government of the United States of America, in particular the Office for Global Criminal Justice of the Department of State, for the continuous political and financial support for the establishment of the mandate of the Specialized Chambers of Kosovo. In any case, I am writing to officially bring to your attention our concern that even after 5 years have passed, which is also the transitional period predetermined at the beginning, there has been little progress in the implementation of the mandate of the Specialized Chambers. Also, I have to express serious reservations, on behalf of the institutions of Kosovo, that the Specialized Chambers and the Prosecutor's Office have not given results as foreseen with their mandate defined in the EU letters with the Agreement with the host state , the Netherlands", Thaçi writes to Pompeo, reports KOHA.
Thaçi further tells him that the Specialized Chambers are internal institutions that operate within the legal hierarchy of Kosovo.
"Regrettably, I have to express my concern that the way in which these respective institutions continue to operate is in direct opposition to what was initially foreseen and agreed upon," writes Thaçi.
However, he says, "It was never the intention of the Kosovo institutions that all proceedings be transferred to the designated third country and be completely displaced from the existing criminal justice system."
It is with great regret that I bring this concern to your attention, but it is a serious concern, as I am obliged to react as the president of Kosovo, who is entrusted with the safety and well-being of the citizens, as well as by the Constitution and laws of Kosovo, the cultivation of the principles of democracy, the protection of national security and the preservation of state sovereignty. Otherwise, our state identity, our efforts for independence and the sacrifices we have made in the name of the nation will be damaged", wrote Thaçi, among other things.
"The purpose of establishing the Specialized Chambers of Kosovo and the Office of the Special Prosecutor of Kosovo has been to build a credible local legal and institutional framework to investigate and prosecute the crimes allegedly committed during 1998-2000 in Kosovo. In this context, it was foreseen that the crimes suspected to have been committed on both sides of the conflict would be fully and properly investigated. It is unacceptable that people whose names have been mentioned in public reports, such as that of Swiss Senator Dick Marty, published in 2010, have been subjected to threats for almost 10 years that they will be investigated and potentially tried," he writes. among others.
Today during the day, KOHA has also secured the letter that Pompeo returned to Thaçi on the eve of the 12th anniversary of independence. Responding to Thaçi's "concern", in the letter dated November 29, Pompeo informs him of the consequences that Kosovo would suffer if he obstructs the work of the Special.
READ ALSO: Thaçi's 2nd attempt to obstruct the work of the Special Court
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