Vukcevic: Haradinaj verdict unjust
Serbia's War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic said Thursday that the acquittal of former Kosovo Liberation Army commander Ramus Haradinaj was unjust and a result of unprofessional witness protection.
(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Thursday, November 29, 2012
"The witnesses were not adequately protected in this case, which led to this outcome," Vukcevic told.
Vukcevic said this was another unjust decision from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) which did not bring the victims justice.
"Still, we need to keep a cool head and continue cooperation in the region, because it is the only way we can prosecute war crimes and get justice for the victims," said the prosecutor.
Vukcevic recalled that witnesses in the Haradinaj trial were killed or refused to testify because they feared for their lives. One example was a witness who told the ICTY Trial Chamber "he would rather go to prison than testify because he was afraid for his life and the lives of his family members," said the prosecutor.
Vukcevic said the Serbian Prosecutor's Office would continue working on its cases connected to the conflict in Kosovo regardless of the ICTY.
The Prosecutor's Office has three open cases involving about 70 victims.
Vukcevic said this was another unjust decision from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) which did not bring the victims justice.
"Still, we need to keep a cool head and continue cooperation in the region, because it is the only way we can prosecute war crimes and get justice for the victims," said the prosecutor.
Vukcevic recalled that witnesses in the Haradinaj trial were killed or refused to testify because they feared for their lives. One example was a witness who told the ICTY Trial Chamber "he would rather go to prison than testify because he was afraid for his life and the lives of his family members," said the prosecutor.
Vukcevic said the Serbian Prosecutor's Office would continue working on its cases connected to the conflict in Kosovo regardless of the ICTY.
The Prosecutor's Office has three open cases involving about 70 victims.
