EU Office: KLA Values Law mars freedom of expression

The European Union has joined diplomatic missions in Kosovo that are opposing the KLA values bill.

The EU Office in Pristina emphasises “the draft law on protecting KLA values contains harmful provisions for freedom of expression”.

“We call on Kosovo lawmakers to reconsider such provisions. If adopted in current format, this law will undermine local and international efforts to further strengthen respect for fundamental rights in Kosovo” is said in the EU Office's response to Express.

Kosovo Liberation Army is an integral part of the history of Kosovo. The Kosovo Liberation Army Values Protection Bill, however, contains provisions that raise serious concerns about the right of people to have their opinion. These provisions undermine and penalise freedom of expression, a key element of fundamental European values and fundamental rights guaranteed with the Constitution of Kosovo and the European Convention for Human Rights” is further said in response.

The EU argues that modern democracies rely on “in a critical audit and debates informed to discuss and interpret historical events and achieve progress”.

So far, the bill has been rejected by the US Embassy, Germany and Switzerland, suggesting that the law has a problem with freedom of expression and that it would violate it.

But, O Deputy Chairman VL KLA, Nasim Haradinaj, says the Law on the Values of the KLA war does not in any way violate human rights and freedoms, as foreign embassies in the country are saying. But, according to him, veterans demand that the law be passed on first reading, then opened for changes and fulfillments.