Bloomberg: The charges against Thaci end American efforts for Kosovo- Serbia

The act towards Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and former Speaker of the Parliament Kadri Veselin by the Special Prosecutor has echoed in all international media.

American media, “blogberg”, has written about the obstacle facing talks between Kosovo and Serbia, broadcast news.

“Already hopes are dim for some progress among neighbours and prospects for a US diplomatic victory disappeared when Kosovo's president was accused of committing war crimes, so he was preparing for talks with Serbs at the White House. ”

The Hague's Specialised Prosecutor's Office filed a 10-point indictment in which Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and other fighters were charged with criminal acts during the war with Serbia two decades ago, including “murders, forced disappearances of persons, persecution and torture”, according to a statement Wednesday.

The Acropolis claims Thaci and the others are “legally responsible for about 100 murders”. A judge of the preliminary procedure is considering it to decide whether to confirm the charges.

As this media writes, Thaci would be expected in Washington on Saturday for talks organised by US envoy for the Balkans Richard Green, with Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq on 27 June. The event was an attempt to help resolve historical disputes between neighbours.

It is unclear whether there will be another meeting, as Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, who is expected to meet Thaci, also said he will not travel to Washington following criminal charges that rocked Europe's newest state, stresses, among other things “blomberg”.

“as a result of the charges filed by the Special Prosecutor, I must return to Pristina to deal with the” situation, Hoti said on Facebook.

Washington's “talks suddenly in doubt give an opening even to the European Union to give up the initiative to lead negotiations. EU-mediated talks among Balkan neighbours stalled in 2018, but the bloc wants to revive them in a competitive effort, as the US also seeks a prominent role to mediate an agreement. Thaci last month said he was in favour of the American leadership. ”

It notes that it is unclear what the indictment implies for the complex dynamics between Vuciqi, 50 and Thaci, 52. Former enemies -- one former Kosovo Liberation Army commander known as “Gjarpri”, the other once minister at the time of President Slobodan Milosevic -- well recognises each other and has spent years in talks.

More than 10,000 people died in the conflict that ended with the 1999 NATO bombings that forced Serb troops outside Kosovo. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, with US support. A. and most European Union states.

The charges have been revealed first by prosecutors in Kosovo's Specialised Chambers, founded in 2015 as part of the Kosovo judiciary, but with international staff and Dutch-based staff protecting witnesses from intimidation.