On Thaci's charges against international Specials, writes “Washington Post”

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci's statements to the Special Court are reflected in most international media.

The prestigious American newspaper “Washington Post” writes that Kosovo's president on Monday accused the international community of failing to keep his word even after the country established an unpopular war crimes court to prosecute ethnic Albanians in cases related to Kosovo's war.

According to the paper, Hashim Thaci has said that among the things the international officials promised in exchange for this court was a fast track towards the European Union membership process, U n NESTO, visa liberalisation and that Kosovo be allowed to form the army, it broadcasts Indexline.

Kosovo established the tribunal, but the international community did not do any of the things it promised”, the president was quoted by the Washington Post.

The Kosovo Special Court was founded in The Hague last year, but so far has not prosecuted any cases.

The paper writes that 19 international judges from European Union member states, the US and Canada are based in The Hague, with jurisdiction over crimes against humanity, war crimes and other crimes covering Kosovo's laws allegedly taking place between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2000.

About 10,000 people died and 1700 disappeared during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war, which ended after NATO intervened, on behalf of the Albanian majority”, the paper further writes.

Thaci, according to the American newspaper, has said he has agreed to lead “an unfair historical process for Kosovo, despite opposition from public, political and civil opinion for this court, in order to protect strategic partnership with the US, the EU and NATO”.

President Thaci has said the court was an injustice for Kosovo.

The Special Court has had <x0 maximum and bilate co-operation with Serbia” but “minimal, symbolic and unilateral co-operation” with Kosovo”, Thaci is quoted in this newspaper.

The <x0orties in Belgrade claim they know who will be charged and what charges will be on Kosovo Albanians”, Thaci said, adding that the “Serbs fully trust this court because they are accurately informed that no Serb will be charged”.

The Washington Post writes that President Thaci stated that the Special Court would not consider any of the “400 massacres, or any of the more than 20,000 suspected cases of Albanian women in Kosovo raped by members of Serb forces.

A spokesperson for the Court was inexplicable for a comment.