Wessel's defense contradicts the court's questions against Bashata: You are trying to conclude that the General Staff had collective responsibilities

He said that according to them, the court is trying to conclude that the General Staff has had collective responsibilities, and that is similar to the SPS position regarding the Joint Criminal Company.

I'm concerned about the actual mix of questions you're asking that, according to us, you're trying to conclude that the General Staff had collective responsibilities, all those involved in the General Staff. This is similar to the position the prosecution is taking when talking about the Joint Criminal Enterprise. That's one of the reasons we're opposing, exactly the way you're asking questions”, Dixon said.

According to him, the magistrate's questions are suggestive and oriented. Dixon begged the judge not to ask questions in that form, for he felt they have already taken a stand.

“The questions are suggestive, orientation. So please, if you want to elaborate on these aspects and certainly have your right to ask your questions on this matter, please don't do them in this form because it looks like you've come up with an attitude and to be fair with protection. If collective responsibility is the core of your questions, then it should be determined who was involved in these decisions, which of the accused was present, who was not present in order to determine what the question of responsibilities was”, said Dixon, reports the “Bettim for Justice“.

Dixon's opposition, however, fell from the court, arguing that the issue of collective responsibilities has been raised by other parties.

The court has not raised the issue of collective responsibilities for the first time. The other parties have raised it and we're just spreading it with you. We bring down your opposition”, the chief judge said.

Significantly, Dixon's opposition came after Mettraux focused on some material evidence, including Jakup Krasniqi's book, saying the General Staff was organised in the common and collective spirit.

Basota said he never cared who wrote the KLA communiqués during the 1998-1999 period and that he does not know who wrote them.

He even said that during the time of the general staff, he has never asked who wrote them or where they were written.

I've never been interested in this day and I don't know. I didn't deal with them, and I said I had some early thoughts about writing those communiqués, and it wasn't a job I could do and I never really asked for them who was doing them, and when you were doing them, they're doing it in Kosovo or getting done outside. I have no information on this and can't take responsibility to send someone I don't know about, said Basota.

Disregarding the focus of the communiqué, Judge Christoph Barthe asked the witness who wrote the political statements or other statements on behalf of the General Staff during this period.

Basota said it has been possible for political statements to be issued both the Adem Demac office and Hashim Thaci as director of the Political Directorate, but that I do not know for certain.

I don't know that exactly, but there's after the powers, there's right behind the statement and the communiqué I think, even from Mr. Demach's office. For issues of various meetings, maybe there are months, I don't know and I'm not sure, as director of the Political Directorate, Mr Thaci. But I don't know exactly if there's anything you can do to write to yourself or not. I don't know that”, Basota said.

In addition, the witness was asked whether Adam Demach had the authority to give orders to members of the November 1998 General Staff and later.

“I cannot say any classic orders in the sense of action, but the impact is behind it, but also authority, just Adem Demac has been an emblem and remains so for all Kosovo Albanians. So we could never do that if it's a command or a reminder. There's enough to be told Mr. Demachy one thing and most of the time, and except for the trouble we have after beating the delegation to Rambouille, we don't have any further clashes with him, not in concepts or in his vision”, Basota said.

Among other things, Basota said he does not know who has made the decision to release two Serbian journalists and two other detainees.

That's what Judge Barthe concluded to ask Judge Guénawel Mettraux questions.