Serbs in Kosovo expect Haradinaj to be sentenced
Representatives of Serbs in Kosovo expressed the hope that despite the release of Croatian generals, the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) will not also acquit Ramus Haradinaj as one of the former leaders of the Albanian paramilitary formation entitled Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) charged with crimes committed against Serb civilians.
(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Wednesday, November 21, 2012
In an interview for The press, Director of the Office for Kosovo Aleksandar Vulin pointed out that the acquittal of Haradinaj would have a negative effect on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and the situation in the field.
"How can we discuss the missing persons, victims and seized property if sitting opposite us is someone who was fairly charged with kidnappings and murders and who amassed wealth precisely though seized property of Serbs," Vulin asked.
He explained that Haradinaj's acquittal would cause instability in the province because Albanians to the south of the Ibar River would erupt with joy and would be encouraged to 'have it done with Serbs once and for all', while Serbs would be disappointed and have the feeling that an injustice was done to them and believe that Serb victims do not count and that murdering Serbs is not a punishable crime.
Representatives of Serbs from Kosovo warned that Haradinaj's acquittal would have serious consequences for the process of reconciliation between Serbs and Albanians.
Head of the Kosovska Mitrovica District Radenko Nedeljkovic told Tanjug that Haradinaj's release would be a message that Serbs have nothing to do in Kosovo.
"Haradinaj's acquittal would send a clear message to the Serb community that there is no justice for them and that Serbs can be legitimate targets and victims of attacks both in Kosovo and everywhere else," he said.
Former state secretary in the Ministry for Kosovo Oliver Ivanovic said that Haradinaj's acquittal would destroy the last remnants of the confidence in the ICTY and disturb the Belgrade-Pristina negotiations because all Pristina's moves and KLA actions during the conflicts earned legitimacy.
MP of the United Serb List in the Kosovo parliament Rada Trajkovic expressed the hope that in the case of Haradinaj, the ICTY would pass the ruling that would serve justice and not politics.
Analyst Zivojin Rakocevic believes that the ICTY joined the dark side of history and no corrections can be made there any more, which is why it can be expected for Haradinaj to be one of the negotiators in the forthcoming Belgrade-Pristina dialogue because the atmosphere being created is that of a dialogue between former soldiers.
"How can we discuss the missing persons, victims and seized property if sitting opposite us is someone who was fairly charged with kidnappings and murders and who amassed wealth precisely though seized property of Serbs," Vulin asked.
He explained that Haradinaj's acquittal would cause instability in the province because Albanians to the south of the Ibar River would erupt with joy and would be encouraged to 'have it done with Serbs once and for all', while Serbs would be disappointed and have the feeling that an injustice was done to them and believe that Serb victims do not count and that murdering Serbs is not a punishable crime.
Representatives of Serbs from Kosovo warned that Haradinaj's acquittal would have serious consequences for the process of reconciliation between Serbs and Albanians.
Head of the Kosovska Mitrovica District Radenko Nedeljkovic told Tanjug that Haradinaj's release would be a message that Serbs have nothing to do in Kosovo.
"Haradinaj's acquittal would send a clear message to the Serb community that there is no justice for them and that Serbs can be legitimate targets and victims of attacks both in Kosovo and everywhere else," he said.
Former state secretary in the Ministry for Kosovo Oliver Ivanovic said that Haradinaj's acquittal would destroy the last remnants of the confidence in the ICTY and disturb the Belgrade-Pristina negotiations because all Pristina's moves and KLA actions during the conflicts earned legitimacy.
MP of the United Serb List in the Kosovo parliament Rada Trajkovic expressed the hope that in the case of Haradinaj, the ICTY would pass the ruling that would serve justice and not politics.
Analyst Zivojin Rakocevic believes that the ICTY joined the dark side of history and no corrections can be made there any more, which is why it can be expected for Haradinaj to be one of the negotiators in the forthcoming Belgrade-Pristina dialogue because the atmosphere being created is that of a dialogue between former soldiers.
