Hague: Documents provided by Serbia's associate who infiltrated the KLA are accepted as evidence

Witness Burns during the war in Kosovo has been chief of the diplomatic observer mission on behalf of the United States of America.

Before the solemn oath, the witness said he has not come to testify at his own initiative but has asked the American State Department and SPS for its post in Kosovo during 1998-99.

I'd like to say that I'm here at the request of the Department of State and Specialised Prosecutor, I'm not here at my own initiative. However, I accept responsibility that will give evidence considering my position and my responsibilities in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999”, the witness said.

According to the court, the testimony of this witness is expected to last three and a half days and that the SPS has envisioned 3 hours for questioning, while countering questions from defence teams is expected to last about 11 hours and a half.

On the other hand, the chairman of the court said that to address questions to this witness, he had also done the defense of the victims, but was opposed by one of the defence teams, and that they would make a decision after prosecutor's questions are concluded.

Documents rejected at last session in the trial of Thaci and others are accepted as evidence

In Kosovo Specialised Chambers ( The DPS) in The Hague has taken a decision that documents that were rejected in past sessions be accepted as material evidence in the court case of Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.

The chairman of the panel, Charles Smith, at today's court hearing against former KLA officials, said these documents are relevant to prove the nature of the work of those mentioned in them and their activities that they have performed during the work.

“As for the survey, the court finds that these are relevant documents because they are dealing with persons allegedly victims of crimes dealing with this case and dealing with doubts related to this individual who did during the war. Moreover, these documents are relevant to first verify the nature of the joint work carried out by suspected collaborators, as well as the extent of such alleged activities committed by this group of collaborators”, Smith III said.

He also gave the explanation for the authenticity of these documents, saying they have no information except for those who offered SPS at the previous session.

“As far as authenticity is concerned, the court finds that there is no information other than the fact that these are information that has been collected by the Intelligence-Controversial Force and individuals who may be suspected as collaborators of Serbian authorities. There is no information that these documents could be intervened, and as far as these documents are known, they are simply documents of the time that deal with the information contained in”, the judge said.

The judge said that by Z SP's documents were seized by Serb authorities, who were later handed over TPNJ's.

“ZPS shows that documents were seized by Serbian authorities and then given TPNJ's. Both documents concern UCK members, UCK members' meetings and activities. The witness 04571 has witnessed directly in the courtroom that is in accordance with handwritten notes pertaining to the alleged links with the Serbian police officer and other individuals who are mentioned in these documents. The documents partially support handwritten notes in evidence that a witness warrant was issued before he was imprisoned”, he said.

On the other hand, he said the defence has failed to explain that these documents should not be taken into account.

The defence recently has no burden on this aspect, and the court states that the defence has offered no reliable explanation of why these documents should not be taken into account and should not be considered important information on this case”, he said.

In the end, the court said that these documents are of provative value, such as accepting them in material evidence.

Otherwise, the Specialised Prosecutor's Office, on September 30th, 2022, has handed over the confirmed amended indictment against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, which consists of ten points of charges, where the latter are charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

On April 29th 2022, the Specialised Prosecutor's Office had handed over a amended indictment to Hashim Thaci, Kadri Wessel, Rexhepi and Jakup Krasniqi, where four indictees have committed war crimes even in Gjilan, Budakov and Semtish.

On November 9th 2020, in their first appearances, Hashim Thaci's Jakup Krasniqi has been declared innocent of the charges placed on them. Wessel has also been declared in his presentation on November 10th, as has Rexhep Selimi on November 11th.

The incident against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselin, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi is confirmed on October 26, 2020. /Betimy for Justice