Kosovo President Hashim Thaci accused of war crimes refuses to deny himself

Text by: RFI Follow

After a provisional indictment of war crimes had been brought against the President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci, he spoke to the people of Kosovo in the evening of Monday 29 June.

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With our correspondent in Belgrade, Laurent Rouy

In a speech to the nation on Monday evening, President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci said he would resign immediately if the interim indictment against him was confirmed. The war crimes indictment comes from the International Special Court. It must be confirmed by the Kosovo justice system.

In the meantime, Thaci claims that these accusations are false and considers that it should not have to resign, even if its international credibility has collapsed. The president of Kosovo still keeps the confidence of the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, who came to Pristina on Monday to support him. For Rama, the provisional indictment is an attack that covers mud and Kosovo and the Albanians.

The situation is unprecedented, because if he is almost sure that Thaci will be charged, he is not yet. In addition, these accusations come as Hashim Thaci was preparing to negotiate with Serbia and the United States, but without the Europeans, a final agreement on the status of Kosovo. According to some analysts, Thaci tried to negotiate his impunity, which prompted the court to disclose this provisional, normally secret, charge.

► Read also: Who is Hashim Thaci, president of Kosovo, former head of the KLA, accused of war crimes?

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