Rama for judging KLA leaders: Fighting Ethnic Purification

Rama draws a parallel with Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenksy, as it states that the case of former KLA leaders suggests that one day even he, who is now seen as a hero, could go behind bars.

There's something very big about this process. I am impressed by the fact that leaders and commanders of a popular liberation movement, not of an organised army, but of a rebellion against a brutal regime aimed at ethnically clearing Albanians in Kosovo, are accused of being war criminals. One whom the US president himself and yesterday one of the leading figures of the American Senate, Joe Biden, baptized as Kosovo's George Washington, is today behind bars. Locked in without charge, which is out of all imagination in relation to international and national law and makes me think this should be President Zelensky's fate after a few years? One day we can see this hero we all admire, behind bars”, Rama said.

According to Rama, what Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and their fighters are going through is something terrible, while considering it as difficult as the war they fought with the enemy before, only in this case, according to the prime minister is with his friend.

What they're going through is something I could define with the terrible word, but on the other hand, they challenged the general sense even before, they challenged it in a very extreme way when they thought to act to independent Kosovo when no one ever approached it as an idea. Something heroic that many today forget, and it's not everyone today who thinks that without Hashim Thaci and those who are there, today none of those who give a mouth without a restraint would have a mouth at all because they wouldn't let anyone talk. This battle is equivalent to the battle with the enemy then, even though it is another thing that is a battle with friend”, Rama said.

Asked about the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Rama voiced optimism as he said he believes the two countries are in a positive phase. Once again he stressed support for Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, where he said he is doing the right thing about this process.

The last meeting with Albin has made me believe we are in a positive phase and I fully support the prime minister of Kosovo in this effort. I don't understand those who consider him a traitor. As Kosovo prime minister, he is doing the right thing and I am completely in support of him and this process, and I believe that even this relationship between Albania and Serbia has its positive impact on the atmosphere of the process”, the head of the Albanian government stressed.

Thousands of citizens marched to Pristina today in support of former KLA leaders Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and their fellow fighters in The Hague, as the trial is expected tomorrow. The protest received broad policy support in Kosovo, civil society and the religious community, as well as politics in Albania.