Former US correspondent writes letters to former KLA leaders in The Hague: You are in the minds and prayers of many friends

Former Democrat businessman Tony Hall has written a letter to former KLA leaders Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, who are being tried at The Hague, broadcast Periscope.

In his letter he says that despite his ability to meet, he always has them in his prayers while asking them to keep “strong”.

I often think of you and pray regularly for you, your families, and Kosovo. Although we failed to meet personally during this visit, know that you have not been forgotten. I've found great encouragement from guidance in the holy writings that “We don't focus our eyes on what we see, but on what we can't see, because what we see is temporary and what is unseen is eternal”. Therefore don't be discouraged because I couldn't sit with you today, for I am with you, even outside these walls! I also come along with other friends I wanted to introduce to you because our society is growing despite the restrictions that some people have imposed!

Hall, who served as a conventioner from 1979 to 2002, told them that they are in the minds and prayers of many friends.

You are in the minds and prayers of many friends everywhere. This does not prevent you from doing good, even though you are imprisoned. You, my friends, still have much to do and you can do great things for your families and your country”.

Full letter:

My dear friends,

It was my earnest desire to meet with you personally this week to encourage our mutual trust, our hope of reconciliation and to increase our respect for each other and especially for your country Kosovo. Although I couldn't meet you personally, I'm not discouraged to come by with you and I'll be there with you, just a few hundred yards away from you, outside the prison walls where you're being held.

And so together with you, we will share the same earth and air and in this spirit that I want to give you some quotations and thoughts from the holy writings. And we hope to offer you some courage and encouragement with our visit.

First, I want to say how grateful I am for your friendship. I often think about you and pray regularly for you, your families, and Kosovo. Although we failed to meet personally during this visit, know that you have not been forgotten. I've found great encouragement from guidance in the holy writings that “we don't focus our eyes on what we see, but on what we can't see, because what we see is temporary and what is unseen is eternal”. Therefore don't be discouraged because I couldn't sit with you today, for I am with you, even outside these walls! I also come with other friends I wanted to introduce to you because our society is growing despite the limitations imposed by some people!

This is one of the strengths of our faith, so hold on to strong and courageous. Second, remember that although you may be confined there, your true strength is with God. When I think about your situation, I remember the strength that my friends and I experienced when we worked for reconciliation in the Holy Land. We believed that” God has not given us a spirit of fear, but power, love, and self - control... and through the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, keep the sacred trust entrusted to you” We pray the same for you, that the work that began in Kosovo bear good fruit.

Let you know that, while we are standing outside these walls citing your names and praying that many good things will continue to flourish in you and Kosovo, you are in the minds and prayers of many friends everywhere. This does not prevent you from doing good, even though you are imprisoned. You, my friends, still have much to do and can do great things for your families and your country.

Finally, as we pray for you today, I want to encourage you to call on your countrymen to pray with you and your country as well. When I was in Congress, I led an attempt to recognise the first Thursday of May as the National Prayer Day, which President Reagan signed as law. Last year I was invited to Ukraine to meet with their parliament for the creation of a similar national prayer day in their country. They passed that law four months ago, and now the US and Ukraine are the only two countries with a national prayer day.

I believe that when a nation humbles itself in prayer, God listens. Imagine what could happen if you together called your fellow countrymen on a prayer day for your nation.

Thank you, dear brothers, for receiving my letter and the hospitality of your families who received me to Kosovo during my last visit two years ago. I am here with friends I have brought from my country and from Kosovo to pray with you and for you. Hold on strong and brave, you still have a lot to do and you have your spiritual means to do so.

In the name of Jesus,

Your brother and friend,

Tony Hall