Bytyci é DA: You're working very unilaterally

Witness Nuhi Bytyci during his testimony in the court case against former KLA leaders repeatedly criticised the representative of the Specialised Prosecutor's Office (ZPS), prosecutor Matt Halling.

Initially, an interview by Jakup Krasniqi, conducted by witness to the newspaper “Voice” was presented in which, according to prosecutor Matt Halling, the accused had said the KLA had not taken up arms to fight civilians but forces and military police. As a result, the witness said he is not looking at the original and that he has been placed on screen only transcripts, naming this as selective and unilateral work.

I don't see the original here. I'm sorry, you have to take the original as concrete evidence not only transcript. It should be parallel to the original to take the transcript, not just the transcript. So selectively, you're working very unilaterally. I don't know the English well”, the witness said.

However, prosecutor Halling said they do not have the original of this document, but only the photograph of his book. However, this document was required to be accepted in evidence that was accepted by the court and classified as public.

Thereafter, the session continued with the presentation of several videos during the wartime attended by the accused. The witness claimed to have shot Hashim Thaci's first public presentation.

This was shot in New Village (Novosell) at the end of October or early November 1998”, the witness said.

He said Thaci had emotions but tried to come up with the findings that the KLA should have great support from the people and leadership in Pristina.

“Thaci had no experience in public presentation, there were emotions which are natural in such situations that happen to experienced journalists, emotions are very natural because public appearance also means public responsibility to the public and Mr. Thaci tried to come up with the findings that the Kosovo Liberation Army should gain greater support from the entire people and from the leadership in Pristina because in that period as it is known, political leadership in Pristina led by Ibrahim Rugova-chairman of the Democratic League of Kosovo did not have the right level of political responsibility for the situation that existed”, the witness said.

He added that it was important that Thaci go public as serious and with an appeal to unify the people around him KLA and gain support from the international factor.

Also, witness Bytyci claimed he has filmed manifestations that were made in honour of Albania's flag day and independence on November 28th 1998 in Divjaka.

Then a video was released on the day when some people were watched for whom Bytyci requested identification.

“From left; Commander Moussui, Rame Buya, father of Kosovo witness and hero Nuhi Mazrekut-Zeynullah Mazreku, then is Mr. Here's Kransic talking. Then, there's a parent of a witness who doesn't know his name, then it's Fatmir Limaj, it's Naim Maloku, it's Commander Musa Jashari, and it's Commander Tahir Sinan”, the witness said, adding that a person behind Rama Bouja is a civilian and is the parent of a witness who is unable to identify him.

This fragment of this video in which people identified by the witness were accepted in material evidence.

Asked whether Fatmir Limaj had shot him on the same day after the flag ceremony, the witness claimed he had done so when Limaj had a school magazine in hand.

And we were at the celebration of this national holiday in New Village (Novosell). Fatmir Limaj had in his hand a school magazine -- Gimnazi's Gimnasie Genvdet Dodaı of Pristina and in that magazine -- several writings of some students of this school and of the Kosovo Liberation Army where they had expressed their will to help the army, support it in its own way and Mr. Fatmir Limaj addresses the school students with an appeal and thanks them for their support”, the witness said.

The video in which Fatmir Limaj was heard was later released, speaking and asking students not to fall prey to party intrigues and be in office at the moment he seeks his homeland.

“Do not fall prey to party intrigues or to several professors who prefer moderate ways, but to act with sound mind and reason and to be in office and at the moment when you seek homeland”, this video is heard saying Fatmir Limaj, which was accepted in material evidence and classified as public.

After that, another video in which Rexhep Selimi was heard was released, saying the General Staff has ordered that he not be fired on New Year's night. He is also heard saying that this commandment is being respected. The Witness said that this interview was carried out on December 31, 1998.

Of course, for any situation, the General Staff makes concrete decisions. Even on New Year's Eve, the General Staff issued an order not to be fired. This order is being respected on time and we have not marked any cases of breaking rules”, Selimi said in this video, adding that even in changing weather, KLA soldiers are in positions and tasks and are also carrying out the orders of the General Staff and other commands in the hierarchy.