"Let me, colleagues, remind you of what you voted for, what powers you gave. This article establishes supremacy over the laws of Kosovo. We do not invite the presidents of our courts, let alone other courts," emphasized LVV MP Shqipe Selimi, who requested that the review of the request be postponed to July or September.
The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MPs have withdrawn from the Committee on Human Rights, Gender Equality, Labor, Family, Values of the Liberation War and Petitions the proposal to send an official invitation for reporting to the Committee, addressed to the President of the Specialized Chambers, Ekaterina Trendafilova.
This follows the request of Albanian Self-Determination MP Selimi, who assessed that now is not the right time to make such a request.
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Letter to the Reader — Why We're Asking for Your Support ContributeMP Selimi, who is not a member of the Commission, said that courts or court presidents do not report to the Assembly.
"Only the Judicial or Prosecutorial Council has a report in the Assembly. Let me tell you that the Specialized Chambers do not submit a report to the Assembly and the Assembly has no competence for this. Let me remind you, colleagues, what you voted for, what competences you gave. This article establishes supremacy over the laws of Kosovo. We do not invite the presidents of our courts, let alone other courts," emphasized Selimi, who requested that the review of the request be postponed to July or September.
"Do not make the process in The Hague part of political campaigns. I did not do it. Let me remind you what you voted for then: a body, a court under the law of Kosovo, a hybrid court that we cannot control. Therefore, we, fellow MPs, are not against it, neither I nor my colleagues, but think again."
She expressed fear that the response they will receive from Trendafilova could be more damaging than their request for reporting.
"Before the Commission, a request should be made to the Council of Europe, since the Specialist Chambers were voted on from there. The appointments of those judges came from the EU. If today you decide that something should be said, written, it should be for the Council of Europe, more than for the Specialist Chambers," Selimi declared.
She asked Behrami if he had consulted with any legal team regarding the request.
"Maybe a consultation would have been better. And the other one, you had 5 years to show your intention; it took you four years to bring a resolution to the Kosovo Assembly, and we as LVV supported it, despite you who LVV is against everything. So, as a resolution like this invitation, I don't know what effect they will have there, only some negative effect they may have," Selimi said.
Behrami said he is convinced that as MPs they can hold the Special Court accountable.
"I have not consulted with anyone from the defense, as I am convinced that as a member of parliament I must hold a court that has deviated accountable, and I trust you if you say that this is not the right time," Behrami said.
PDK MP Sala Jashari said that if Selimi wants the request to be withdrawn, they will do so.
"And ultimately, I don't like the fact that we are discussing what we haven't done. You are saying that this resolution was made late, but this resolution could have been made earlier by VV, not just by PDK. And if you think that the request should be withdrawn, we will withdraw it," Jashari said.
Former KLA leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The prosecution has requested sentences of up to 45 years in prison for them, while the defense has requested their acquittal after finding that the prosecution has not substantiated its claims with anything.