Smith: There is a powerful group in Kosovo that does not want the existence of Special Court

The Specialised Prosecutor's Office has come up with a communique for the media after the start of the trial against former OVL and KLA leaders, Hysni Gucatit and Nasim Haradinaj.

Specialised prosecutor Jack Smith has said that the development of this trial is necessary because, as he says, there is a small but powerful group of people in Kosovo who do not want this court to exist and that they will do anything to harm it.

He called it “the false description” the statement that no soldier of The KLA has committed crimes during the war.

“that there is a small but powerful group of people in Kosovo who do not want this Court to exist and do everything to damage it in a futile attempt to save a false description that no soldier of The KLA did not commit crimes during the war.”, the SPS communiqué says.

According to Smith, Gucati and Haradinaj also belonged to this group.

“Z. Smith noted that Mr. Gucati and Mr. Haradinaj belongs to this group and denigrates anyone who co-operates with Kosovo Specialised Chambers and SPS, calling it “ “x2>, “co-workers”, and “traffickers” who have “divided” their countrymen.

The specialised prosecutor stressed that specialised rooms should be a court that focuses on the victims and part of the reason why it was created, and why it has headquarters in The Hague, it is the “climate of witness intimidation and interference in the processes that exist in criminal cases against former KLA””, said further in communique.

It has also become known that the prosecution will begin presenting evidence to its court case starting next Monday.

Full SPS communication:

Specialized Prosecutor: We must protect those who seek justice

At the beginning of the trial of Hysni Gucatit and Nasim Haradinaj, who are charged with obstructing the Specialised Prosecutor's Office and fear of witnesses, Special Prosecutor Jack Smith described the case as a case “related to the conditions required for the fair administration of justice” and the “that are required to make law rule a reality”.

The specialised prosecutor said the truth constitutes the foundation of justice and a truth that explains why the development of this trial is necessary is the fact that there is a small but powerful group of people in Kosovo who do not want this court to exist and that they will do anything to damage it in a futile attempt to save a false description that no soldier of The KLA did not commit crimes during the war. ”

Mr. Smith noted that Mr. Gucati and Mr. Haradinaj belongs to this group and denigrates anyone who co-operates with Kosovo's Specialised Chambers and SPS, calling them “ ”, “collaborators”, and “trandants” who have “divided” their countrymen.

The specialised prosecutor stressed that the Specialised Chambers should be a court that focuses on victims and part of the reason why it was created, and why it has headquarters in The Hague, it is the <x0 climate of witness intimidation and intervention in processes that exist in criminal cases against former KLA members”.

“This climate has had an effect on the past by preventing witnesses from coming to the tribunal and saying what they knew about KLA crimes,” said Mr. Smith. The “The accused are familiar with this story and hoped to use the same strategy here to intimidate witnesses because it had had had an effect on the past. ”

The specialised prosecutor stated that fair administration of justice requires the creation and support of institutions that can protect those seeking justice and that Kosovo's Specialised Chambers have the capacity to provide justice for many victims in Kosovo.

The reason it has this power is that it provides a safe place for witnesses to speak up about the crimes they saw, the crimes they suffered themselves, the crimes their family members saw suffering,” he said. “and, more crucial, it represents a place where they can do so without fear of revenge and punishment. ”

The prosecution will begin presenting evidence to its court case starting next Monday, October 18th.