Witness says Thaci-led Political Directorate has nothing to do with military issues

Witness Bislim Office said that the Political Directorate dealt with international and political aspects, while the military had nothing to do with military issues only.

 

 

 

“The General Staff has not been divided into two groups, but the political part is divided to operate with international and international aspects, as with observers who were in Kosovo as well as with the OSCE, as with all to deal with this director and political group, and the military issue is a military issue and deal with military issues”, he said, responding to attorney Luka Misethic's questions.

The office stressed that the political group dealt with negotiations and did not get involved in military issues, reports “Justice Trust “.

According to Luka Misetic, in the trial against Ramush Haradinaj in 2008, the witness had said that from May to September of 1998, military operations were not endorsed in advance by the General Staff in any Kosovo country. This defence argument, the witness confirmed it with his head, but his answer was not heard from the public.

 

 

The Witness claimed that it is the fact that from the moment he entered Kosovo until he left in September, there was no regular communication between the General Staff and the commanders of the areas.

It was hard to communicate, unless we went, I went into that area or he came to Staff, and we could see that it was difficult. We didn't have communication on the phone or... I was speaking personally, or radio-connected, but I could only physically meet with them”, the witness said further.

According to Misetic, in the case against Milutinevich, the witness had said there was a communication room in which an officer was appointed.

So this is after the reshuffle of the General Staff when it's become the Operational Directorate. Within the framework of the Operational Directorate was built operating halls, all reports and information from the area were received, and command was processed as to what is happening in those areas or reports coming. Yes, that's what it was”, he said.

In the same trial, the witness had said that this officer's role was to contact operational areas, learn what demands they had, convey them to Staff and create a clear view of what is happening throughout Kosovo's territory.

“is the correct description of the superior at the Operative Directorate”, the Office said.

He added how much he knew, satellite phones were received from December of 1998 and then denied that he knew if one of the KLA members had used such a phone earlier.

The office said it is the fact that in mid-July, when the director of the Operational Directorate himself did not have a satellite phone until December of 1998.

On the other hand, he confirmed that Thaci was placed at the helm of the Political Directorate in December 1998 and that Azem Syla and all others valued his political ability.

According to Misetic, the witness had told the SPS that Thaci from the Political Directorate communicated directly with Azem Syla, but that the office's response was not only heard that it was seen as he claimed head.

Neither was the witness's response heard when Misetic told him whether it is right to say that from December 1998 to March of 99, Thaci took on diplomatic, international aspects, held talks and reported to Azem Syla.