hey olf . im about as far away from a serb as you can get , this verdict is an insult and an injustice to all balkan people . you speak like you know something we dont ? wake up . this man is guilty ... and they expect serbia to hand over radovan etc etc ???
The U.S. will NEVER turn any of its citizens over to the Hague for war crime trials. Serbia should follow the U.S. example and immediately stop arresting Serbs and turning them over to the Hague. If any Serbian citizens are sent to the Hague to stand trial then the problem is with the Serbian government and not the Hague.
I cannot say about Haradinaj being involved in war crimes, since I have nothing to do with the Kosovo conflict (I'm Romanian) but I know that he is feared by many in Kosovo, Serbs and Albanians alike. So are many others, ex-UCK leaders. Fear is a form of respect, unfortunately many people tend to see only the respect and prefer to ignore the fear behind it.
On the other hand, during my stay in Kosovo, for couple years, I was able to see that most of K/Albanians are, on the record, satisfied with the war conduct of "UCK heroes" who "fought the liberation war". Off the record, I was told by many K/Albanians that a significant number of UCK people are/were just crazy people doing crazy things during the war, and getting rich because of that.
Matter of fact, I've got the impression that the only ex-UCK people really respected by the common people (K/Albanians) - meaning respect, not fear - are part of one of this two categories: those who died fighting, and those who are not rich today.
But to come forward and say this would be impossible for any sane K/Albanian, and this has nothing to do with ethnicity, or hate for Serbs, it is just the sense of self-preservation - normal human behavior. The same goes for the Serbs who say that "Arkan was a saint" (as I was told by a K/Serb in Prokuple, in 2007) and "Mladic a hero", or the Croats who praise Franjo Tudjman for "cleaning the Serb cancer of Krajna" (a quote from a Croat newspaper article I've seen in Orasje, BiH, in 1997).
Based on that, I dare to say that none of the parts involved in conflict in Kosovo - Serbs and Albanians - are really ready to confront their own ghosts and exorcise their inner demons...
But why we should expect Serbs and Albanians to reconcile after 7 years since the 1999-war, since Macedonians and Greeks are not able to solve a "name problem", not even a "blood problem"... and this since 1991!
shqype criticised and denied my comment that the KLA were branded a terrorist organisation by others other than serbia (item51)After other postings he backpeddles and says that after 1998 they weren't branded terrorists after being trained by the USA Germany etc.(item 64) Your point shqype? You now agree that they were branded a terrorist organisation in 1998? Wasn't this the year some of the charges were against this man? Therefore you agree with my comment that this man was a member of a terrorist organisation at the time of charges against him- end of story. I am writing from the UK and am ashamed of my country's lies and hypocracy. Diana
This verdict has nothing to do with justice. It serves political needs, that is all. Haradinaj was a high ranking officer of the UCK at a time and at a place where and when atrocities were committed. Regardless of whether he personally ordered or supervised war crimes, his position makes him legally responsible for what happened. This crucial principle has been established in Nuremberg and has been applied in The Hague in trials against Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian war criminals. Without this principle of responsibility by position, no war crime tribunals would be possible and this would mean the end of justice. But as far as Kosovo Albanians are concerned there seems to be no need for that as long as the political needs of certain countries are served.
Can you ONCE (at least) for goodness sake say something neutral about Albanians in general.
From you one can only hear(like Milosevic, Seselj, Kostunica...rhetoric ) always victimising Serbs. According to your comments (though I am sure you know the truth, but intentionally dont comment that) Albanians are killers, rapists, organ traffickers, ICTY, US and EU are biased, Kosovo independence is unfair...etc.
I think, you should at least say a comment such as SOME ALBANIANS MAY BE bad (this and that)or for my limited knowledge you may be suffering from self-fulfilling prophecy 'disease'.
DO you think the Serbs have done good things during the war in Croatia, Bosnia adn Kosovo? (Please ask them and they will tell what Serbs have done in their territories)
I hope you dont represent the Serbia in international scene, because with such attitude you will remain the Belarus of the Balkans.
"Judge Orie remarked that the trial chamber had difficulty getting witnesses to testify because many were too frightened to appear before the court."
That pretty much says it all - and that was the JUDGE'S quote! I wish I could say I am shocked, but anyone who knows anything about how Albanian society works knows that witness intimidation and threats would keep most witnesses from coming forward.
What a Ruse this court has turned out to be. Karadzic and Mladic should be tried (and hopefully convicted) in courts in Bosnia and/or Serbia. This monkey court is completely incapable of handling even the most black-and-white trials. Too much Western political influence. Too much anti-Serb sentiment. Another careless reward for the K-Albanians given by their Western masters.
Criminals rarely reform themselves... it won't take long until these clowns are making another mess....
"For a short period of time it was declared a "terrorist" organization, but this was based on Serbian propaganda. The United States, upon further examining the situation and realizing that the KLA was fighting Serbia, changed their characterization of the Kosova Liberation Army."
The US only removed the terrorist label of the KLA because they chose (political and economic)interests above moral. Either you will get dumped because interests have changed or you will stap your masters in the back because you will feel betrayed or used. It is all so predictable, because history will repeat itself and people do not want to learn from it.
Ronald Reagen died a free man even though after his 8 year term his policy of war left 300 000 bodies in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador.
(BKK, 4 April 2008 00:28)
Ronald Reagan won the Cold War without firing a single shot against USSR.
Your logic it reminds me the movie "Nicija Zemlja" when the Bosnian soldier reading the newspaper in the trenches was suprised to read about the genocide in Rwanda while his comrades where being shot by Serbian soldiers.
Do not extradite ANY MORE alledged "war criminals". Ask for those Serbs there to be returned to Serbia IMMEDIATELY. Demand retribution for families of those convicted and or have died waiting for "justice". Cut all cooperation with ICTY and demand that Haradinaj, along with Thaci be extrodited to Belgrade.
Lets not get carried away here.
The fact is that witnesses were intimidated and the judges remarked on it in their report - I posted the link, its in English above.
If you read carefully you will see that much of the first half of the report is dwelling on this - almost as an explanation as to why Haradinaj would be found not guilty.
So yes to the Serb side I say this was a travesty and the timing of the verdict was political. But since numerous witnesses were intimidated even impartial judges would have a problem finding Haradinaj on the serious charges. On the face of it this judgement isnt so unexpected - even if the trial was fair.
Perhaps the judges would have made a political decision supporting the Albanian troika even, if there was more evidence to convict them, but we can't know for sure. Alongside this fact is the openly opposing opinion by one judge who stated in the ruling that Balaj should have been found guilty on a particular charge which would have seen him imprisoned.
Moreover, this is worrying from the point of view of international justice. The message being sent is that threatening witnesses is a successful way of defending oneself, because there is no sanction - if a state entity (Kosovo authorities) is covering up for its suspected war criminals by not protecting witnesses, those same authorities (internationals) given bribes / threats against themselves.
To the Albanian side I'd say this is a hollow victory. The only joy you can get from this (and its not healthy) is that it is upsetting to Serb, Roma and Albanian victims of Haradinaj and his thugs. Yes it might be fun to score another minor 'victory' against the Serbs, but that kind of thinking makes monsters out of you. I mean that with no offense.
Haradinaj is returning, do you really want these kind of men ruling Kosovo? What kind of European future can you expect with this? Is it more important to score some kind of perceived victory against Serbs, than to think about your own, who will have to suffer in a society where men like Haradinaj are Alfa and Omega? This is a serious problem - surely you must see it.
At best this 'victory' is bittersweet for Albanians. I'd say it was a loss for humanity .
Regarding the USA and labeling the KLA a terrorist organization:
For a short period of time it was declared a "terrorist" organization, but this was based on Serbian propaganda. The United States, upon further examining the situation and realizing that the KLA was fighting Serbia, changed their characterization of the Kosova Liberation Army.
The United States, Canada, Germany, France, Britain, and other important Western nations DO NOT classify the KLA as a terrorist organization (nor have they since 1998, the year of the Drenica massacre by Serb).
Once again this shows that Serbs are living in the past, taking Serbian propaganda as "fact" and living by it.
Lets remind ourselves that Milosevic died as an innocent man. The Hague had a lot of problems with their charges against him...
But, does this make Milosevic an innocent man?
(Ana, 3 April 2008 18:02)
do you really think, Milosevic died as an innocent man, Ana? his file was closed in Le Hague, because he died. this makes him no less guilty or unguilty as he was.
I think pretty much everyone knows that is is a kangaroo court. And who doesn't must have been living under a rock.
Same applies to the court set up for Uganda.
If those truly were courts of justice we would have had many many many American, French (for that genocide in Algeria that noone bothers about) and English soldiers commanders and politicians sitting up there letting Asia, Africa and South America bring the verdict for their punishments.
Ronald Reagen died a free man even though after his 8 year term his policy of war left 300 000 bodies in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador.
What kind of justice are we talking about? Please.
In Hague everyone is innocent until proven a Serb.
I guess your country's atocities in Kosovo made the State Department think twice about delcaring KLA a terrorist organization. You always provide us with these outdated documents that do not stand the test of time.
what would you call your army's actions in kosovo, bosnia, and croatia?
what would u call the international community's decision to releive Serbia of its actions in Bosnia, declaring it not responsible for the Genocide.
What was said in 1998 was subsequently corrected later that same year. please!!!
This is blatantly untrue. Serbia declared the KLA a terrorist organization, but that's part of the Serbian propaganda . The West, including Western Europe, NATO, the United States, and Canada DO NOT consider the KLA to be a terrorist organization.
In fact, the KLA was trained, supported, and funded by both Germany and the US in particular: including US Senator John McCain, 2008 presidential candidate.
(Shqype, 3 April 2008 21:27)
You do not understand anything - just check the internet before you type your nonsense! To quote UN State Department..
"Declared a terrorist organization by the US State Department in 1998, the group has long been known to be an equal opportunity criminal organization, killing
Serbians, Gypsies, and fellow Albanians without discrimination."
Serbia - one true great nation shall live on....with Kosovo
Nobody should be surprised by this decision. This is not, nor was it ever, a real court of law. This is a kangaroo court, built for propoganda purposes to demonize the Serbs and make the real criminals, terrorists, and organ traffickers look like angels.
Like I said before, no Serb should recognize this court. It has about as much to do with justice as McDonalds has to do with health food.
RE; Shqype "In fact, the KLA was trained, supported, and funded by both Germany and the US in particular: including US Senator John McCain, 2008 presidential candidate."
Thank you for enlightining us! I mean we knew it all along but it does sound less Serbian propaganda when an Albanian KLA member confirms it. Now we know (and you know) why you were recognised by the US and EU as an independent country and now we know why Haradinaj walked as a free man today...
RE: "neutra and all the other serbs here.
Albanians
1) are already in NATO (Albania)
2) signed ASA one year ago (Albania)
3) have 2 states (Albania and Kosovo/a)
(Aleksander,"
And you forgot to say that you still are the poorest country in Europe...
We were even told by Albanians that you do not have hospitals in Albania for organ transplants or doctors that can perform this type of operation...
But good for you that you are in NATO! I'm sure it will change your lifes a bit!
no one is trying to discredit you. I htink r10 was wrong to assume that you are Albanian.
as far as ICTY is concerned, the process is fact oriented, and the institution is non-political.
In most instances, the KLA refrained from systematically persecuting of innocent population.
And I don't think anyone is trying discredit you, but since we are on that subject, the ICTY ruling discredited you and your administration.
"haradinaj was in switzerland when your troops and your paramilitary came in kosovo and committed crimes ,tortures and rapes."
OK, let me remind you that Kosovo is part of Serbia so the military and the MUP was already there...And, yes, I understand what you want to say. They were so bored in Kosovo that one day they decided to start killing and raping. Nothing to do with what KLA was doing at the time...they were having tea in their backyards...
"haradinaj came from switzerland in kosova to protect us from you and i thank him because he stopped your massacres and did not allow you to rape and kill all albanian women!"
Oh what a heroe this Haradinaj is...So he decided not to be a doorman anymore but to come and fight for justice. What a nice men...Did he call upon talks with the Serbian authorities? How did he defend you exactly? With KLA, and of course, poor old KLA did not have arms...Really, this Serbs are monsters...
"he has accepted to die so that we can be free."
I do not see him dead, so I don't know how he decided to die. Please, explain to me...
"This is blatantly untrue. Serbia declared the KLA a terrorist organization, but that's part of the Serbian propaganda . The West, including Western Europe, NATO, the United States, and Canada DO NOT consider the KLA to be a terrorist organization.
In fact, the KLA was trained, supported, and funded by both Germany and the US in particular: including US Senator John McCain, 2008 presidential candidate.
(Shqype, 3 April 2008 21:27)"
What planet are you from and in how much denial do and can you live? Please check out the two following links (from your favorite USA).
"Last year, while State Department officials labeled the KLA a terrorist organization, saying it bankrolled its operations with proceeds from the heroin trade and from loans from known terrorists like bin Laden, the department listed the group as an "insurgency" organization in its official reports. The officials charged that the KLA used terrorist tactics to assault Serbian and ethnic Albanian civilians in a campaign to achieve independence."
I am happy that you confirm yourself what all Serbians posting here already know for the past 10 years. That Germany and the US funded and trained the KLA. Serbia does not have to make propanda and it has actually been the twenty years or so anti-Serbia propaganda by the West that has caused a tremendous amount of suffering. In the future stop insulting people's intelligence here by posting lies and making a fool of yourself. The KLA was suddenly removed for the now ell-known reasons. Regarding McCain the following. Of course he will be less worst than Bush, but Europe has to embrace itself for continuing instability for the US Balkan policy will most unlikely not change or even get worse.
Do you really think that after this staged trial Serbia would send Karadzic and Mladic to the Hague? This is a politic court and it's not about justice.
Nonetheless, Mladic and Karadzic should be arrested and respond to the grave accusations against them. I think the best would be to try them in Serbia and to transmit the whole trial by television so that everybody could follow the proceedings. The US never admit their citizens be tried by an international court, Serbia should do the same.
Justice prevails! I hope Serbs learn from their mistakes and come to terms with the reality. Hope you free yourselves from your propagandistic past. Kosova is free, so live and let live! Peace!
First I never said I was Albanian, nor would I pretend to be one. Do not know were you got that crazy idea...
Secon: Did I mention that the ALBANIAN protected witness was speaking in English? NO...
Imagine, it is a PROTECTED witness. Do you know what that means? You do not see the face of the person, you only hear the voice. And yes, there were a lot of PROTECTED witnesses, because if you knew anything regarding this case, you would know that nine witnesses were killed in Kosovo and many of them were afraid to come and testify because of it...Trust me, you won't find their names anywhere or they would vanish in the night in Kosovo as some already have...
If you knew anything about how the ICTY works, then you would KNOW that there is a huge amount of people who have been working there as simultaneous translators all the time. Half of the persons that are on trial do not speak English...
Regarding your last comment of the post that there were killings of Serbs but they were not organised...well, I must say I find your statement rather psycho...So if the crimes were not organised then you should not face justice and should not be indited for them?
Nice justice you are talking about...
So do not try to discredit me, because you can't...
As far as your knowledge s conserned: Do you even know were The Hague is?
Once again justice prevails over propaganda and injustice. Haradinaj gave himself up willingly and immediately following his indictment. He respected the legality of the Hague War Crimes Tribunal and international law, and believed in their righteousness. He knew that all he had to do was plead his case and it would be discovered that this whole ordeal was orchestrated by Serbian propaganda and unreliable witnesses employed by Serbian bribery.
Haradinaj had nothing to hide, submitted himself willingly and graciously to the justice of the court, and was set free for his innocence of the charges against him. Naturally it seems the case was only entertained to begin with because the Serbs complain that the ICTY is biased against them, but hopefully they will realize that a majority of those guilty of war crimes are Serbs because it was the Serbs which brutally committed more war crimes than anyone else involved in the conflict!
Once again this is a victory for justice and fairness over Serbian propaganda and injustice and I'm very pleased with the outcome.
Diana said "what a load of rubbish- the KLA were declared a terrorist organisation."
This is blatantly untrue. Serbia declared the KLA a terrorist organization, but that's part of the Serbian propaganda . The West, including Western Europe, NATO, the United States, and Canada DO NOT consider the KLA to be a terrorist organization.
In fact, the KLA was trained, supported, and funded by both Germany and the US in particular: including US Senator John McCain, 2008 presidential candidate.
I would ignore what happened today becuse this was expected. America has lost time and money for Kosovo's independence and wants by all means to prove to the world that there were higher causes for its independence. I hope Serbia will not loose time in polemics with America about this: I would personally leave it enjoy in the petty victory.
Ana:
Please don't hide behind albanian witness name and dont pretend that you are one.
1) None of the witnesses spoke english.
2) If you were Albanian you would spell your Pristina as "Prishtina"
And yes I agree that there were crimes comited against serbs in kosovo, but not as organised and not as closse to what serbians did to albanians.
what a load of rubbish- the KLA were declared a terrorist organisation- the fact that he was a KLA member/terrorist says it all. The West is guttless in the face of intimidation and this is why they have set him free- for political purposes- nothing else. Serbia would be better turning it's back on the corrupt EU -they will never get justice because if they did it would mean that NATO and the EU would be proved to be the villians and they are not big enough to admit their mistakes.
Just like we thought that Legija is a hero,untill that hero killed our future...that is how people of Kosovo are yet to discover the deamons of their past...war criminals are not good for any side...they are a black spot of society....
Another victory for NATO's friends, al-Qaeda and the narco-mafia.
This disgusting human being bragged about his crimes in his own autobiography.
The International Tribunal for Convicting Serbs While Letting Terrorists and Nazis Go Free, once again did as predicted.
Not surprising that the KLA's cheerleaders who post here on this website are gloating about 'justice' and grandstanding about the 'impartiality' of the courts. Pathetic.
The "human rights" police apparently support the murdering of teenage boys and mass executions of innocent civilians.
No surprise there. "The Hague" is just another branch of US/NATO military, almost as destructive and inconsiderate as the US Air Force itself. I am of course frustrated with the verdict, however, looking at the big picture it's almost better this way. There is no doubt left that nothing is as it appears, and everything is as we assumed. But not to worry, it's only matter of time until Albanians outlive their usefulness and are "thrown under the bus", the same way Sadam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, Manuel Noriega and many others outlived theirs. US is a terrible enemy and even worst friend.
It's like every time something good happens to an Albanian, Serbia complains about the international law being broken.
But as soon as someone starts mentioning the Serb role in the Yugoslavia break-up...then all of a sudden everyone else is guilty for making Serbia do it.
that's not how international law works, sorry. You need to elect better lawyers next time.
neutra and all the other serbs here.
Albanians
1) are already in NATO (Albania)
2) signed ASA one year ago (Albania)
3) have 2 states (Albania and Kosovo/a)
Unlike the Serb Generals who hide behind patriotism -- Haradinaj surrendered voluntarily. He gathered around himself some of the best lawyers in the world. Money may not buy you happiness but it certainly buys you freedom.
I knew from the beginning that his arrest was just a way to please some in the international community. Ramush could have not committed mass atrocities. He never had control of the Dukagjin area. He may have controlled some villages and that at night only but he never the area under his control.
Individuals and collaborators on the hand were attacked perhaps that’s what the prosecutions should have focused on instead of trying to prove that Ramush was trying to ethnically cleanse Serbs. Anyway court did its best. Some of us may agree with it and some of us may not agree with it.
It should serve future generations well not to start another conflict. It takes years to build a bridge but seconds to destroy it. We should always remember that. Even more important to this day there are still mothers on both sides of the aisle still searching for their missing sons and daughters.
I did not say that harajdina did not have any lawyers; I said that he did not have a defense. That selective reading of yours is impairing your judgement.
The fact remains that ICTY is njot a political insitution; ruling is lways based on evidence and fact. Mr. harjdina Lawyers were so convinced of his innocence that they let the prosecutors--fed with MUP "evidence"--make a fool of themselves.
Wow, Im amazed by this new love-connection between Western Europe and Albania.... honestly, maybe Albanians should consider immigrating to UK, FRA, GER.. You would be heartly welcomed there!
This is actually good news for Serbia. It is an undoubted and watertight proof that Hague is a political institution that has nothing to do with justice and has everything to do with punishing Serbia for not succumbing to western pressure. Together with Carla del Pontes book, this charade trial will put Hague in the history books. It is not a judgement for Haradinaj, it is a judgement of the Hague court and the result is crystal clear - miserable failure.
Have patience Serbs - Wait and see what will happen in time. Today the Albanians are rejoicing at an uncertain future ( a fake state in someone else's country) - tomorrow they will be begging for the past! The hague had to let Haradinaj go free - If the truth about the KLA came out now, one can only imagine how little support the US could buy for this so called 'independence'.
p.s
Once again they -(guess who I mean) have backed the WRONG side!! ;-)
Why should some people comment on everything as in justice for example? The decision is not political, it is a matter of the facts in the Court. The indictment against Haradinaj was based on MUP evidence, whose members along with other military forces committed crimes in Kosovo during 1999. Fortunately, ICTY is not a branch o MUP and this is why we Ramush Haradinaj was set free today. It seems that even God is against Serbia! It is obvious, since all of us are human and belong to the God and Serbia was the one who broke the God’s rule by killing so many innocent people in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. The trial against Serbian criminals goes on, so let`s wait and see if any of them was acused by mistake!
Liri, Canada
haradinaj was in switzerland when your troops and your paramilitary came in kosovo and committed crimes ,tortures and rapes.Do not forget what you have done in the dukagjini area:haradinaj came from switzerland in kosova to protect us from you and i thank him because he stopped your massacres and did not allow you to rape and kill all albanian women !
he has accepted to die so that we can be free.
I do not support him in politics;but as far as his war time is concerned ,i am gratefull to him for his engagement for our liberty!.
there are no crimes commited aganst Serbs in Kosova thats why there are no people arrested.
(Olf, 3 April 2008 17:40)
This is from a Dutch website (www.nu.nl): "Brahimaj is wel schuldig bevonden omdat hij persoonlijk heeft gemarteld. De rechters komen verder tot de conclusie dat UÇK-militairen "een groot aantal misdaden" hebben begaan, die echter veelal de verdachten in deze zaak niet persoonlijk kunnen worden aangerekend."
Translated: "Brahimaj has been found guilty because he himself tortured prisoners. The judges furthermore concluded that KLA military were responsible for a great number of crimes, but the defendants could not be held responsible for these crimes."
Apparently, the KLA did commit a great number of crimes Olf!
"Haradinaj, who stood accused of torture, murder, rape and deportation together with two other Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders, Lahi Brahimaj and Idriz Balaj, has been found not guilty on all counts of the indictment."
As "usual" the accusations made by Serbs and others were probably made up (according to the court considering the verdict). These are very serious crimes and letting terrorists and criminals like these walk away so easily has sent a very wrong message. This kangaroo court is 100% biased and political and should be closed immediately for tax money is waisted on it.
"Hague spokeswoman Olga Kavran told B92 earlier that the prosecution had brought forward over 80 witnesses during the case, though two key ones had failed to appear."
So 80 witnesses is not enough? Maybe the court should have put more effort to protect and bring the two key witnesses to The Hague if the feel this case was so important to them.
“A case for contempt of court is currently ongoing regarding that matter. So, the prosecution has been able to bring forward 81 witnesses, although two very important witnesses did not appear."
There should be a case for contempt against ignoring suffering by Serbs and others.
""There was a problem with witness intimidation, there was the fact that many witness appeared under protective measures, and that 18 subpoenas had to be issued, which meant that a court order had to be issued before these witness would come to testify,“ explained Kavran."
Could you please explain to us where these intimiditations came from? It would not surprise me if these came from Kosovo-Albanians. Are you not surprised or shocked? Most normal and descent people should stand by all the innocent victims who are looking for justice and who have been stapped in the back again by letting these criminals walk away like this.
"The prosecution called for 39-year old Haradinaj to be sentenced to 25 years imprisonment."
That would have been a minimum.
"The accused commanded the KLA during the war in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999, and until his voluntary surrender to the Hague, he was Kosovo prime minister."
Typical for the Kosovo Albanian society. It is almost like "The American Dream". From terrorist to PM. I am sure that when he surrendered "voluntary" that it was promised that he would be let free. Just another scam to fool the world.
"In a letter to the Tribunal on March 27, senior Kosovo officials demanded Haradinaj’s acquittal."
Let him free or else (judges will get killed, we will start attacking Serbs or even NATO, and so on). Princip UK wrote it so beautifully.
Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we plan to illegally wage war....ironic that the verdict comes out today during the NATO summit!
To finish I would like to express my sympathy and support to all those witnesses who have been used and thrown away and whose basic rights for justice have once again been stepped upon in the name of political games and a quest for money and power by a very small group of politicans that hopefully one day will be in The Hague for their true crimes against humanity.
Olf and Randal are completely ignorant of the fact that even del Ponte accused UNMIK of deliberately destroying documents and fostering the intimidation of witnesses in the Haradinaj case. I don't know what country you gentleman live in, but I can assure you--as someone living in a Democratic society--that the murder of witnesses is frowned upon in the western world. Again, these claims come from del Ponte herself.
On multiple other occasions, we see even the most Western of Serbs such as Kandic decry the Hague operations when they let animals such as Naser Oric loose, and turn a blind eye to 30 Serb prisoners having their organs harvested in Albania, or refuse to indct undisputed war criminals like Ceku.
Again, these are Hague sources such as Del Ponte who acknowledge the favoritism of those who are not Serbs.
Olf and Randal don't have a leg to stand on in this case.
The Hague is not Anti-Serb! This is how justice works in the real world. The man was indicted and turned himself in (unlike various Serbs). He stood trial without acting like a clown (unlike Milosevic). The prosecution failed to prove their case and he was acquited. Get over it! One more for the good guys.....
(Randal Dewey, 3 April 2008 17:42)
This wasn't justice - it was complete fake - no defence witnesses were ever questioned, key witnesses did not appear. Perhaps all Serbs should do the same and then there will be no case to prove...this decision is an appalling and is another kick in the teeth to the great Serbian nation. We Serbs are at the crossroads...do we need to turn to EU? I think not. Do we need the SAA? I think not. We can survive by working with partners throughout the world - not just our 'backstabbers'/US puppets in the EU!
Any professional lawyer who followed this indictment and its proceedings would tell you that this whole case was a joke. Political prosecution at its worst. I predicted a year ago that this case would be thrown out. My comments published a year ago are below. Pay close attention to the prosecutions warning about the “ethic balance of the victims”.
When the trail chamber asked the prosecutor to drop more then half of the charges( for lack of evidence)that had people of Serbian ethnicity as victims, they responded this way:
"The prosecution warned the judges that this would disturb "the delicate balance" in the ethnic composition of the victims of the crimes Haradinaj, Balaj and Brahimaj are charged with."
This is disgusting to the extreme. The fact the prosecution would attempt to balance the ethnicity of the victims is very unprofessional. This case would have been thrown out in any normal court on ethical grounds.
(balkanupdate, 18 February 2007 06:31)
I saw Haradinaj in The Hague court last year LIVE! Yes I was there...as was a protected witness (Albanian) talking about all the crimes comited by Haradinaj.
And Haradinaj was having a nap all day long...as if they were not talking about him...
If you heard what I heard that day comming out from the mouth of an Albanian protected witness saying about what they did to Albanias who did not follow their politics you can imagine what they did to Serbs...
But Haradinaj was having a nap...
That day I knew he was going to walk out of there as a free man...
Imagine what would have happened in Pristina today if he was sentenced to prision? Just try to imagine...
In this case, KFOR would need more that Polish and Ukrainan soldiers...
Lets remind ourselves that Milosevic died as an innocent man. The Hague had a lot of problems with their charges against him...
Shame on the ICTY!!! Justice is proved to be blind when it comes to murder, rape and mistreatment of non albanians! Obviously a done deal prior to the declaration of independence. No doubt del ponte will now in hinesight come up with yet another revelation, too little too late.
Culpable by their inaction
The whole of the international community has the blood of the innocent on their hands!!!
There we go as I said this has nothing to do with justice - it is all political and it would just not do to find that the US and the 'few' EU aided and abetted in war crimes.
This is hardly a mesage which will instill confidence in the non-albanian population nor for that matter even some within the ethnic-Albanian as the turf war begins anew!
Fact remains Lahi Brahimaj got 6 years and clearly despite all the intmidation the trail leads back up the command chain to Haradinaj!
So much for the K-albanian concept of justice. Their so-called constitution is only fit to be used as toilet paper.
Funcakes:
This travesty of justice is indeed closed for now. It is not over. And you sir are to be condemned for your comments.
Olf:
If you regard this as a victory, then I feel sorry for you.
Randal Dewey:
Haradinaj turned himself in because he had the backing of Ruecker & co - there was tampering & withholding of evidence by them, not to mention witness intimidation by K-albanians & failure to guarantee the safety of said witnesses by UNMIK.
If you regard this as a 'victory for the good guys', then you are certainly as black as they come.
R.Haradinaj set free. All the charges dropped. Yet another victory of K-Albanians and KLA in clearing their name. Serbian propagande seems not to be working perfectly.
Another ICTY kick in the teeth for Justice. If you're not going to prosecute your little buddies why indict them in the first place? Just be men and say straight out "Ramush is our toy who did what we wanted so we're going to protect him from justice". Why bother with the charade?
So much for international law and order.Today`s hand washing of hardinaj crimes ends any doubt that there is no justice.
Or they might be counting on thachi &co to finish their job.
SHAME
This is really sick! But one must wonder what is the purpose of the court in Hague? That court is created only for Serbs and Serbia must stop cooperation with Hague and must close their office in Belgrade. Serbia must demand immediate release of all detained Serbs over there, especially Seselj’s release that is charged for verbal assault.
The is shame for the justice, this is shame for Europe, this is shame for entire law and justice system.
Murderers, rapists, organ traffickers set free, remember this day people because the justice works partially and selectively.
This is one reason more for Serbia to stay firm on its position in Kosovo and Serbs must never succumb to the Albanian criminals that rule over our province. I am sure it won’t be for long!
No, I must admit to feeling a little sick - not because this is a defeat for Serbia.
No, I know from good information that many of these charges against Haradinaj were true. Of course most Albanians will celebrate, but I hope that some Albanians will stop to think about whether people like Haradinaj and his clan are the problem or the solution.
Will reserve my opinion on the impartiality of the Hague until I see what the ruling on Haradinaj is.
My criticism was primarily directed at those 'Kosovo officials' that have 'demanded' an acquital. Question is, is this how K-albanian justice works in Kosovo?
The majority of those who have committed crimes against the serbs in Kosovo over the last 8yrs have gone unpunished.
i am shocked, speechless. Serbia really should now turn away from the EU, get Northern Kosovo in its ranks and turn towards Russia. It is clear, Serbia has NOTHING to expect from this EU. Just look at Switzerland, they survive without the EU also!
A shame for justice, a shame for the truth!
The Hague is not Anti-Serb! This is how justice works in the real world. The man was indicted and turned himself in (unlike various Serbs). He stood trial without acting like a clown (unlike Milosevic). The prosecution failed to prove their case and he was acquited. Get over it! One more for the good guys.....
"Haradinaj stands accused of torture, murder, rape and deportation together with two other Kosovo Liberation Army"
Sounds like a group of animals to me. And to think Thachi was such a commander along with our old friend Mr. Ceku who has already had vast experience with "removing" (raiding, raping and raveging) Serbs from Bosnia
ICTY was set to impartially deal with the crimes committed against humanity in the former Yugoslavia.
The only ones that object such court is Milosevic regime, Seselj and their war machine not the ordinary Serb in majority.
No matter what the verdict would be, I think that this court is doing a excellent job.
I know that some Serbs don’t like this court since it brings to light the atrocities committed by Serbs forces but hey justice must be done.
And so after all this time the verdict will be announced this afternoon...
After the pronouncement all eyes will be on Kosovo to see the reaction. I expect that Haradinaj will receive a light sentence. The prosecution didn't do a very good job (as in a number of cases including Seselj's so far) and this sentence could be dynamite on how it affects Kosovo. I also can't see how the Hague can possibly risk an outbreak of mass protest / violence so perhaps this will be the most political verdict of all the cases so far.
"Haradinaj stands accused of torture, murder, rape and deportation together with two other Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders, Lahi Brahimaj and Idriz Balaj
...
There was a problem with witness intimidation, there was the fact that many witness appeared under protective measures, and that 18 subpoenas had to be issued
...
In a letter to the Tribunal on March 27, senior Kosovo officials demanded Haradinaj’s acquittal. "
These same people have just signed a constitution guaranteeing human rights, respect of minorities & the rule of law.
The Hague set up is as everyone is only too aware a political institution and has nothing to do with actual justice.
Thus the verdict will be political in nature and the decision will balance on whether a conviction would set off riots by ethnic Albanians and provide Serbia with even more evidence that its military had to act to quell violent insurgency (even if over handed any other soverign UN state would justify the same) or an acquital would send a message that thuggery and intimidation of all can continue - hardly likely to help ease tensions either way!
In sum this has nothing to do with justice but is blatantly political!
Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we plan to illegally wage war....ironic that the verdict comes out today during the NATO summit!
This is really sick! But one must wonder what is the purpose of the court in Hague? That court is created only for Serbs and Serbia must stop cooperation with Hague and must close their office in Belgrade. Serbia must demand immediate release of all detained Serbs over there, especially Seselj’s release that is charged for verbal assault.
The is shame for the justice, this is shame for Europe, this is shame for entire law and justice system.
Murderers, rapists, organ traffickers set free, remember this day people because the justice works partially and selectively.
This is one reason more for Serbia to stay firm on its position in Kosovo and Serbs must never succumb to the Albanian criminals that rule over our province. I am sure it won’t be for long!
"Haradinaj stands accused of torture, murder, rape and deportation together with two other Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders, Lahi Brahimaj and Idriz Balaj
...
There was a problem with witness intimidation, there was the fact that many witness appeared under protective measures, and that 18 subpoenas had to be issued
...
In a letter to the Tribunal on March 27, senior Kosovo officials demanded Haradinaj’s acquittal. "
These same people have just signed a constitution guaranteeing human rights, respect of minorities & the rule of law.
Another ICTY kick in the teeth for Justice. If you're not going to prosecute your little buddies why indict them in the first place? Just be men and say straight out "Ramush is our toy who did what we wanted so we're going to protect him from justice". Why bother with the charade?
I saw Haradinaj in The Hague court last year LIVE! Yes I was there...as was a protected witness (Albanian) talking about all the crimes comited by Haradinaj.
And Haradinaj was having a nap all day long...as if they were not talking about him...
If you heard what I heard that day comming out from the mouth of an Albanian protected witness saying about what they did to Albanias who did not follow their politics you can imagine what they did to Serbs...
But Haradinaj was having a nap...
That day I knew he was going to walk out of there as a free man...
Imagine what would have happened in Pristina today if he was sentenced to prision? Just try to imagine...
In this case, KFOR would need more that Polish and Ukrainan soldiers...
Lets remind ourselves that Milosevic died as an innocent man. The Hague had a lot of problems with their charges against him...
The Hague set up is as everyone is only too aware a political institution and has nothing to do with actual justice.
Thus the verdict will be political in nature and the decision will balance on whether a conviction would set off riots by ethnic Albanians and provide Serbia with even more evidence that its military had to act to quell violent insurgency (even if over handed any other soverign UN state would justify the same) or an acquital would send a message that thuggery and intimidation of all can continue - hardly likely to help ease tensions either way!
In sum this has nothing to do with justice but is blatantly political!
Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we plan to illegally wage war....ironic that the verdict comes out today during the NATO summit!
i am shocked, speechless. Serbia really should now turn away from the EU, get Northern Kosovo in its ranks and turn towards Russia. It is clear, Serbia has NOTHING to expect from this EU. Just look at Switzerland, they survive without the EU also!
A shame for justice, a shame for the truth!
"Haradinaj stands accused of torture, murder, rape and deportation together with two other Kosovo Liberation Army"
Sounds like a group of animals to me. And to think Thachi was such a commander along with our old friend Mr. Ceku who has already had vast experience with "removing" (raiding, raping and raveging) Serbs from Bosnia
The Hague is not Anti-Serb! This is how justice works in the real world. The man was indicted and turned himself in (unlike various Serbs). He stood trial without acting like a clown (unlike Milosevic). The prosecution failed to prove their case and he was acquited. Get over it! One more for the good guys.....
No, I must admit to feeling a little sick - not because this is a defeat for Serbia.
No, I know from good information that many of these charges against Haradinaj were true. Of course most Albanians will celebrate, but I hope that some Albanians will stop to think about whether people like Haradinaj and his clan are the problem or the solution.
So much for international law and order.Today`s hand washing of hardinaj crimes ends any doubt that there is no justice.
Or they might be counting on thachi &co to finish their job.
SHAME
Will reserve my opinion on the impartiality of the Hague until I see what the ruling on Haradinaj is.
My criticism was primarily directed at those 'Kosovo officials' that have 'demanded' an acquital. Question is, is this how K-albanian justice works in Kosovo?
The majority of those who have committed crimes against the serbs in Kosovo over the last 8yrs have gone unpunished.
R.Haradinaj set free. All the charges dropped. Yet another victory of K-Albanians and KLA in clearing their name. Serbian propagande seems not to be working perfectly.
"Haradinaj, who stood accused of torture, murder, rape and deportation together with two other Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders, Lahi Brahimaj and Idriz Balaj, has been found not guilty on all counts of the indictment."
As "usual" the accusations made by Serbs and others were probably made up (according to the court considering the verdict). These are very serious crimes and letting terrorists and criminals like these walk away so easily has sent a very wrong message. This kangaroo court is 100% biased and political and should be closed immediately for tax money is waisted on it.
"Hague spokeswoman Olga Kavran told B92 earlier that the prosecution had brought forward over 80 witnesses during the case, though two key ones had failed to appear."
So 80 witnesses is not enough? Maybe the court should have put more effort to protect and bring the two key witnesses to The Hague if the feel this case was so important to them.
“A case for contempt of court is currently ongoing regarding that matter. So, the prosecution has been able to bring forward 81 witnesses, although two very important witnesses did not appear."
There should be a case for contempt against ignoring suffering by Serbs and others.
""There was a problem with witness intimidation, there was the fact that many witness appeared under protective measures, and that 18 subpoenas had to be issued, which meant that a court order had to be issued before these witness would come to testify,“ explained Kavran."
Could you please explain to us where these intimiditations came from? It would not surprise me if these came from Kosovo-Albanians. Are you not surprised or shocked? Most normal and descent people should stand by all the innocent victims who are looking for justice and who have been stapped in the back again by letting these criminals walk away like this.
"The prosecution called for 39-year old Haradinaj to be sentenced to 25 years imprisonment."
That would have been a minimum.
"The accused commanded the KLA during the war in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999, and until his voluntary surrender to the Hague, he was Kosovo prime minister."
Typical for the Kosovo Albanian society. It is almost like "The American Dream". From terrorist to PM. I am sure that when he surrendered "voluntary" that it was promised that he would be let free. Just another scam to fool the world.
"In a letter to the Tribunal on March 27, senior Kosovo officials demanded Haradinaj’s acquittal."
Let him free or else (judges will get killed, we will start attacking Serbs or even NATO, and so on). Princip UK wrote it so beautifully.
Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we plan to illegally wage war....ironic that the verdict comes out today during the NATO summit!
To finish I would like to express my sympathy and support to all those witnesses who have been used and thrown away and whose basic rights for justice have once again been stepped upon in the name of political games and a quest for money and power by a very small group of politicans that hopefully one day will be in The Hague for their true crimes against humanity.
The Hague is not Anti-Serb! This is how justice works in the real world. The man was indicted and turned himself in (unlike various Serbs). He stood trial without acting like a clown (unlike Milosevic). The prosecution failed to prove their case and he was acquited. Get over it! One more for the good guys.....
(Randal Dewey, 3 April 2008 17:42)
This wasn't justice - it was complete fake - no defence witnesses were ever questioned, key witnesses did not appear. Perhaps all Serbs should do the same and then there will be no case to prove...this decision is an appalling and is another kick in the teeth to the great Serbian nation. We Serbs are at the crossroads...do we need to turn to EU? I think not. Do we need the SAA? I think not. We can survive by working with partners throughout the world - not just our 'backstabbers'/US puppets in the EU!
Have patience Serbs - Wait and see what will happen in time. Today the Albanians are rejoicing at an uncertain future ( a fake state in someone else's country) - tomorrow they will be begging for the past! The hague had to let Haradinaj go free - If the truth about the KLA came out now, one can only imagine how little support the US could buy for this so called 'independence'.
p.s
Once again they -(guess who I mean) have backed the WRONG side!! ;-)
Shame on the ICTY!!! Justice is proved to be blind when it comes to murder, rape and mistreatment of non albanians! Obviously a done deal prior to the declaration of independence. No doubt del ponte will now in hinesight come up with yet another revelation, too little too late.
Culpable by their inaction
The whole of the international community has the blood of the innocent on their hands!!!
So much for the K-albanian concept of justice. Their so-called constitution is only fit to be used as toilet paper.
Funcakes:
This travesty of justice is indeed closed for now. It is not over. And you sir are to be condemned for your comments.
Olf:
If you regard this as a victory, then I feel sorry for you.
Randal Dewey:
Haradinaj turned himself in because he had the backing of Ruecker & co - there was tampering & withholding of evidence by them, not to mention witness intimidation by K-albanians & failure to guarantee the safety of said witnesses by UNMIK.
If you regard this as a 'victory for the good guys', then you are certainly as black as they come.
there are no crimes commited aganst Serbs in Kosova thats why there are no people arrested.
(Olf, 3 April 2008 17:40)
This is from a Dutch website (www.nu.nl): "Brahimaj is wel schuldig bevonden omdat hij persoonlijk heeft gemarteld. De rechters komen verder tot de conclusie dat UÇK-militairen "een groot aantal misdaden" hebben begaan, die echter veelal de verdachten in deze zaak niet persoonlijk kunnen worden aangerekend."
Translated: "Brahimaj has been found guilty because he himself tortured prisoners. The judges furthermore concluded that KLA military were responsible for a great number of crimes, but the defendants could not be held responsible for these crimes."
Apparently, the KLA did commit a great number of crimes Olf!
Another victory for NATO's friends, al-Qaeda and the narco-mafia.
This disgusting human being bragged about his crimes in his own autobiography.
The International Tribunal for Convicting Serbs While Letting Terrorists and Nazis Go Free, once again did as predicted.
Not surprising that the KLA's cheerleaders who post here on this website are gloating about 'justice' and grandstanding about the 'impartiality' of the courts. Pathetic.
The "human rights" police apparently support the murdering of teenage boys and mass executions of innocent civilians.
There we go as I said this has nothing to do with justice - it is all political and it would just not do to find that the US and the 'few' EU aided and abetted in war crimes.
This is hardly a mesage which will instill confidence in the non-albanian population nor for that matter even some within the ethnic-Albanian as the turf war begins anew!
Fact remains Lahi Brahimaj got 6 years and clearly despite all the intmidation the trail leads back up the command chain to Haradinaj!
This is actually good news for Serbia. It is an undoubted and watertight proof that Hague is a political institution that has nothing to do with justice and has everything to do with punishing Serbia for not succumbing to western pressure. Together with Carla del Pontes book, this charade trial will put Hague in the history books. It is not a judgement for Haradinaj, it is a judgement of the Hague court and the result is crystal clear - miserable failure.
First I never said I was Albanian, nor would I pretend to be one. Do not know were you got that crazy idea...
Secon: Did I mention that the ALBANIAN protected witness was speaking in English? NO...
Imagine, it is a PROTECTED witness. Do you know what that means? You do not see the face of the person, you only hear the voice. And yes, there were a lot of PROTECTED witnesses, because if you knew anything regarding this case, you would know that nine witnesses were killed in Kosovo and many of them were afraid to come and testify because of it...Trust me, you won't find their names anywhere or they would vanish in the night in Kosovo as some already have...
If you knew anything about how the ICTY works, then you would KNOW that there is a huge amount of people who have been working there as simultaneous translators all the time. Half of the persons that are on trial do not speak English...
Regarding your last comment of the post that there were killings of Serbs but they were not organised...well, I must say I find your statement rather psycho...So if the crimes were not organised then you should not face justice and should not be indited for them?
Nice justice you are talking about...
So do not try to discredit me, because you can't...
As far as your knowledge s conserned: Do you even know were The Hague is?
Olf and Randal are completely ignorant of the fact that even del Ponte accused UNMIK of deliberately destroying documents and fostering the intimidation of witnesses in the Haradinaj case. I don't know what country you gentleman live in, but I can assure you--as someone living in a Democratic society--that the murder of witnesses is frowned upon in the western world. Again, these claims come from del Ponte herself.
On multiple other occasions, we see even the most Western of Serbs such as Kandic decry the Hague operations when they let animals such as Naser Oric loose, and turn a blind eye to 30 Serb prisoners having their organs harvested in Albania, or refuse to indct undisputed war criminals like Ceku.
Again, these are Hague sources such as Del Ponte who acknowledge the favoritism of those who are not Serbs.
Olf and Randal don't have a leg to stand on in this case.
I think pretty much everyone knows that is is a kangaroo court. And who doesn't must have been living under a rock.
Same applies to the court set up for Uganda.
If those truly were courts of justice we would have had many many many American, French (for that genocide in Algeria that noone bothers about) and English soldiers commanders and politicians sitting up there letting Asia, Africa and South America bring the verdict for their punishments.
Ronald Reagen died a free man even though after his 8 year term his policy of war left 300 000 bodies in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador.
What kind of justice are we talking about? Please.
In Hague everyone is innocent until proven a Serb.
RE; Shqype "In fact, the KLA was trained, supported, and funded by both Germany and the US in particular: including US Senator John McCain, 2008 presidential candidate."
Thank you for enlightining us! I mean we knew it all along but it does sound less Serbian propaganda when an Albanian KLA member confirms it. Now we know (and you know) why you were recognised by the US and EU as an independent country and now we know why Haradinaj walked as a free man today...
ICTY was set to impartially deal with the crimes committed against humanity in the former Yugoslavia.
The only ones that object such court is Milosevic regime, Seselj and their war machine not the ordinary Serb in majority.
No matter what the verdict would be, I think that this court is doing a excellent job.
I know that some Serbs don’t like this court since it brings to light the atrocities committed by Serbs forces but hey justice must be done.
"This is blatantly untrue. Serbia declared the KLA a terrorist organization, but that's part of the Serbian propaganda . The West, including Western Europe, NATO, the United States, and Canada DO NOT consider the KLA to be a terrorist organization.
In fact, the KLA was trained, supported, and funded by both Germany and the US in particular: including US Senator John McCain, 2008 presidential candidate.
(Shqype, 3 April 2008 21:27)"
What planet are you from and in how much denial do and can you live? Please check out the two following links (from your favorite USA).
"Last year, while State Department officials labeled the KLA a terrorist organization, saying it bankrolled its operations with proceeds from the heroin trade and from loans from known terrorists like bin Laden, the department listed the group as an "insurgency" organization in its official reports. The officials charged that the KLA used terrorist tactics to assault Serbian and ethnic Albanian civilians in a campaign to achieve independence."
I am happy that you confirm yourself what all Serbians posting here already know for the past 10 years. That Germany and the US funded and trained the KLA. Serbia does not have to make propanda and it has actually been the twenty years or so anti-Serbia propaganda by the West that has caused a tremendous amount of suffering. In the future stop insulting people's intelligence here by posting lies and making a fool of yourself. The KLA was suddenly removed for the now ell-known reasons. Regarding McCain the following. Of course he will be less worst than Bush, but Europe has to embrace itself for continuing instability for the US Balkan policy will most unlikely not change or even get worse.
This is blatantly untrue. Serbia declared the KLA a terrorist organization, but that's part of the Serbian propaganda . The West, including Western Europe, NATO, the United States, and Canada DO NOT consider the KLA to be a terrorist organization.
In fact, the KLA was trained, supported, and funded by both Germany and the US in particular: including US Senator John McCain, 2008 presidential candidate.
(Shqype, 3 April 2008 21:27)
You do not understand anything - just check the internet before you type your nonsense! To quote UN State Department..
"Declared a terrorist organization by the US State Department in 1998, the group has long been known to be an equal opportunity criminal organization, killing
Serbians, Gypsies, and fellow Albanians without discrimination."
Serbia - one true great nation shall live on....with Kosovo
The U.S. will NEVER turn any of its citizens over to the Hague for war crime trials. Serbia should follow the U.S. example and immediately stop arresting Serbs and turning them over to the Hague. If any Serbian citizens are sent to the Hague to stand trial then the problem is with the Serbian government and not the Hague.
And so after all this time the verdict will be announced this afternoon...
After the pronouncement all eyes will be on Kosovo to see the reaction. I expect that Haradinaj will receive a light sentence. The prosecution didn't do a very good job (as in a number of cases including Seselj's so far) and this sentence could be dynamite on how it affects Kosovo. I also can't see how the Hague can possibly risk an outbreak of mass protest / violence so perhaps this will be the most political verdict of all the cases so far.
haradinaj was in switzerland when your troops and your paramilitary came in kosovo and committed crimes ,tortures and rapes.Do not forget what you have done in the dukagjini area:haradinaj came from switzerland in kosova to protect us from you and i thank him because he stopped your massacres and did not allow you to rape and kill all albanian women !
he has accepted to die so that we can be free.
I do not support him in politics;but as far as his war time is concerned ,i am gratefull to him for his engagement for our liberty!.
what a load of rubbish- the KLA were declared a terrorist organisation- the fact that he was a KLA member/terrorist says it all. The West is guttless in the face of intimidation and this is why they have set him free- for political purposes- nothing else. Serbia would be better turning it's back on the corrupt EU -they will never get justice because if they did it would mean that NATO and the EU would be proved to be the villians and they are not big enough to admit their mistakes.
Nobody should be surprised by this decision. This is not, nor was it ever, a real court of law. This is a kangaroo court, built for propoganda purposes to demonize the Serbs and make the real criminals, terrorists, and organ traffickers look like angels.
Like I said before, no Serb should recognize this court. It has about as much to do with justice as McDonalds has to do with health food.
"haradinaj was in switzerland when your troops and your paramilitary came in kosovo and committed crimes ,tortures and rapes."
OK, let me remind you that Kosovo is part of Serbia so the military and the MUP was already there...And, yes, I understand what you want to say. They were so bored in Kosovo that one day they decided to start killing and raping. Nothing to do with what KLA was doing at the time...they were having tea in their backyards...
"haradinaj came from switzerland in kosova to protect us from you and i thank him because he stopped your massacres and did not allow you to rape and kill all albanian women!"
Oh what a heroe this Haradinaj is...So he decided not to be a doorman anymore but to come and fight for justice. What a nice men...Did he call upon talks with the Serbian authorities? How did he defend you exactly? With KLA, and of course, poor old KLA did not have arms...Really, this Serbs are monsters...
"he has accepted to die so that we can be free."
I do not see him dead, so I don't know how he decided to die. Please, explain to me...
No surprise there. "The Hague" is just another branch of US/NATO military, almost as destructive and inconsiderate as the US Air Force itself. I am of course frustrated with the verdict, however, looking at the big picture it's almost better this way. There is no doubt left that nothing is as it appears, and everything is as we assumed. But not to worry, it's only matter of time until Albanians outlive their usefulness and are "thrown under the bus", the same way Sadam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, Manuel Noriega and many others outlived theirs. US is a terrible enemy and even worst friend.
Do not extradite ANY MORE alledged "war criminals". Ask for those Serbs there to be returned to Serbia IMMEDIATELY. Demand retribution for families of those convicted and or have died waiting for "justice". Cut all cooperation with ICTY and demand that Haradinaj, along with Thaci be extrodited to Belgrade.
hey olf . im about as far away from a serb as you can get , this verdict is an insult and an injustice to all balkan people . you speak like you know something we dont ? wake up . this man is guilty ... and they expect serbia to hand over radovan etc etc ???
Why should some people comment on everything as in justice for example? The decision is not political, it is a matter of the facts in the Court. The indictment against Haradinaj was based on MUP evidence, whose members along with other military forces committed crimes in Kosovo during 1999. Fortunately, ICTY is not a branch o MUP and this is why we Ramush Haradinaj was set free today. It seems that even God is against Serbia! It is obvious, since all of us are human and belong to the God and Serbia was the one who broke the God’s rule by killing so many innocent people in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. The trial against Serbian criminals goes on, so let`s wait and see if any of them was acused by mistake!
Liri, Canada
neutra and all the other serbs here.
Albanians
1) are already in NATO (Albania)
2) signed ASA one year ago (Albania)
3) have 2 states (Albania and Kosovo/a)
Just like we thought that Legija is a hero,untill that hero killed our future...that is how people of Kosovo are yet to discover the deamons of their past...war criminals are not good for any side...they are a black spot of society....
Wow, Im amazed by this new love-connection between Western Europe and Albania.... honestly, maybe Albanians should consider immigrating to UK, FRA, GER.. You would be heartly welcomed there!
Unlike the Serb Generals who hide behind patriotism -- Haradinaj surrendered voluntarily. He gathered around himself some of the best lawyers in the world. Money may not buy you happiness but it certainly buys you freedom.
I knew from the beginning that his arrest was just a way to please some in the international community. Ramush could have not committed mass atrocities. He never had control of the Dukagjin area. He may have controlled some villages and that at night only but he never the area under his control.
Individuals and collaborators on the hand were attacked perhaps that’s what the prosecutions should have focused on instead of trying to prove that Ramush was trying to ethnically cleanse Serbs. Anyway court did its best. Some of us may agree with it and some of us may not agree with it.
It should serve future generations well not to start another conflict. It takes years to build a bridge but seconds to destroy it. We should always remember that. Even more important to this day there are still mothers on both sides of the aisle still searching for their missing sons and daughters.
Lets not get carried away here.
The fact is that witnesses were intimidated and the judges remarked on it in their report - I posted the link, its in English above.
If you read carefully you will see that much of the first half of the report is dwelling on this - almost as an explanation as to why Haradinaj would be found not guilty.
So yes to the Serb side I say this was a travesty and the timing of the verdict was political. But since numerous witnesses were intimidated even impartial judges would have a problem finding Haradinaj on the serious charges. On the face of it this judgement isnt so unexpected - even if the trial was fair.
Perhaps the judges would have made a political decision supporting the Albanian troika even, if there was more evidence to convict them, but we can't know for sure. Alongside this fact is the openly opposing opinion by one judge who stated in the ruling that Balaj should have been found guilty on a particular charge which would have seen him imprisoned.
Moreover, this is worrying from the point of view of international justice. The message being sent is that threatening witnesses is a successful way of defending oneself, because there is no sanction - if a state entity (Kosovo authorities) is covering up for its suspected war criminals by not protecting witnesses, those same authorities (internationals) given bribes / threats against themselves.
To the Albanian side I'd say this is a hollow victory. The only joy you can get from this (and its not healthy) is that it is upsetting to Serb, Roma and Albanian victims of Haradinaj and his thugs. Yes it might be fun to score another minor 'victory' against the Serbs, but that kind of thinking makes monsters out of you. I mean that with no offense.
Haradinaj is returning, do you really want these kind of men ruling Kosovo? What kind of European future can you expect with this? Is it more important to score some kind of perceived victory against Serbs, than to think about your own, who will have to suffer in a society where men like Haradinaj are Alfa and Omega? This is a serious problem - surely you must see it.
At best this 'victory' is bittersweet for Albanians. I'd say it was a loss for humanity .
Do you really think that after this staged trial Serbia would send Karadzic and Mladic to the Hague? This is a politic court and it's not about justice.
Nonetheless, Mladic and Karadzic should be arrested and respond to the grave accusations against them. I think the best would be to try them in Serbia and to transmit the whole trial by television so that everybody could follow the proceedings. The US never admit their citizens be tried by an international court, Serbia should do the same.
shqype criticised and denied my comment that the KLA were branded a terrorist organisation by others other than serbia (item51)After other postings he backpeddles and says that after 1998 they weren't branded terrorists after being trained by the USA Germany etc.(item 64) Your point shqype? You now agree that they were branded a terrorist organisation in 1998? Wasn't this the year some of the charges were against this man? Therefore you agree with my comment that this man was a member of a terrorist organisation at the time of charges against him- end of story. I am writing from the UK and am ashamed of my country's lies and hypocracy. Diana
Any professional lawyer who followed this indictment and its proceedings would tell you that this whole case was a joke. Political prosecution at its worst. I predicted a year ago that this case would be thrown out. My comments published a year ago are below. Pay close attention to the prosecutions warning about the “ethic balance of the victims”.
When the trail chamber asked the prosecutor to drop more then half of the charges( for lack of evidence)that had people of Serbian ethnicity as victims, they responded this way:
"The prosecution warned the judges that this would disturb "the delicate balance" in the ethnic composition of the victims of the crimes Haradinaj, Balaj and Brahimaj are charged with."
This is disgusting to the extreme. The fact the prosecution would attempt to balance the ethnicity of the victims is very unprofessional. This case would have been thrown out in any normal court on ethical grounds.
(balkanupdate, 18 February 2007 06:31)
Ana:
Please don't hide behind albanian witness name and dont pretend that you are one.
1) None of the witnesses spoke english.
2) If you were Albanian you would spell your Pristina as "Prishtina"
And yes I agree that there were crimes comited against serbs in kosovo, but not as organised and not as closse to what serbians did to albanians.
This verdict has nothing to do with justice. It serves political needs, that is all. Haradinaj was a high ranking officer of the UCK at a time and at a place where and when atrocities were committed. Regardless of whether he personally ordered or supervised war crimes, his position makes him legally responsible for what happened. This crucial principle has been established in Nuremberg and has been applied in The Hague in trials against Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian war criminals. Without this principle of responsibility by position, no war crime tribunals would be possible and this would mean the end of justice. But as far as Kosovo Albanians are concerned there seems to be no need for that as long as the political needs of certain countries are served.
Diana said "what a load of rubbish- the KLA were declared a terrorist organisation."
This is blatantly untrue. Serbia declared the KLA a terrorist organization, but that's part of the Serbian propaganda . The West, including Western Europe, NATO, the United States, and Canada DO NOT consider the KLA to be a terrorist organization.
In fact, the KLA was trained, supported, and funded by both Germany and the US in particular: including US Senator John McCain, 2008 presidential candidate.
RE: "neutra and all the other serbs here.
Albanians
1) are already in NATO (Albania)
2) signed ASA one year ago (Albania)
3) have 2 states (Albania and Kosovo/a)
(Aleksander,"
And you forgot to say that you still are the poorest country in Europe...
We were even told by Albanians that you do not have hospitals in Albania for organ transplants or doctors that can perform this type of operation...
But good for you that you are in NATO! I'm sure it will change your lifes a bit!
It's like every time something good happens to an Albanian, Serbia complains about the international law being broken.
But as soon as someone starts mentioning the Serb role in the Yugoslavia break-up...then all of a sudden everyone else is guilty for making Serbia do it.
that's not how international law works, sorry. You need to elect better lawyers next time.
"For a short period of time it was declared a "terrorist" organization, but this was based on Serbian propaganda. The United States, upon further examining the situation and realizing that the KLA was fighting Serbia, changed their characterization of the Kosova Liberation Army."
The US only removed the terrorist label of the KLA because they chose (political and economic)interests above moral. Either you will get dumped because interests have changed or you will stap your masters in the back because you will feel betrayed or used. It is all so predictable, because history will repeat itself and people do not want to learn from it.
I did not say that harajdina did not have any lawyers; I said that he did not have a defense. That selective reading of yours is impairing your judgement.
The fact remains that ICTY is njot a political insitution; ruling is lways based on evidence and fact. Mr. harjdina Lawyers were so convinced of his innocence that they let the prosecutors--fed with MUP "evidence"--make a fool of themselves.
Justice prevails! I hope Serbs learn from their mistakes and come to terms with the reality. Hope you free yourselves from your propagandistic past. Kosova is free, so live and let live! Peace!
Once again justice prevails over propaganda and injustice. Haradinaj gave himself up willingly and immediately following his indictment. He respected the legality of the Hague War Crimes Tribunal and international law, and believed in their righteousness. He knew that all he had to do was plead his case and it would be discovered that this whole ordeal was orchestrated by Serbian propaganda and unreliable witnesses employed by Serbian bribery.
Haradinaj had nothing to hide, submitted himself willingly and graciously to the justice of the court, and was set free for his innocence of the charges against him. Naturally it seems the case was only entertained to begin with because the Serbs complain that the ICTY is biased against them, but hopefully they will realize that a majority of those guilty of war crimes are Serbs because it was the Serbs which brutally committed more war crimes than anyone else involved in the conflict!
Once again this is a victory for justice and fairness over Serbian propaganda and injustice and I'm very pleased with the outcome.
"Judge Orie remarked that the trial chamber had difficulty getting witnesses to testify because many were too frightened to appear before the court."
That pretty much says it all - and that was the JUDGE'S quote! I wish I could say I am shocked, but anyone who knows anything about how Albanian society works knows that witness intimidation and threats would keep most witnesses from coming forward.
What a Ruse this court has turned out to be. Karadzic and Mladic should be tried (and hopefully convicted) in courts in Bosnia and/or Serbia. This monkey court is completely incapable of handling even the most black-and-white trials. Too much Western political influence. Too much anti-Serb sentiment. Another careless reward for the K-Albanians given by their Western masters.
Criminals rarely reform themselves... it won't take long until these clowns are making another mess....
I cannot say about Haradinaj being involved in war crimes, since I have nothing to do with the Kosovo conflict (I'm Romanian) but I know that he is feared by many in Kosovo, Serbs and Albanians alike. So are many others, ex-UCK leaders. Fear is a form of respect, unfortunately many people tend to see only the respect and prefer to ignore the fear behind it.
On the other hand, during my stay in Kosovo, for couple years, I was able to see that most of K/Albanians are, on the record, satisfied with the war conduct of "UCK heroes" who "fought the liberation war". Off the record, I was told by many K/Albanians that a significant number of UCK people are/were just crazy people doing crazy things during the war, and getting rich because of that.
Matter of fact, I've got the impression that the only ex-UCK people really respected by the common people (K/Albanians) - meaning respect, not fear - are part of one of this two categories: those who died fighting, and those who are not rich today.
But to come forward and say this would be impossible for any sane K/Albanian, and this has nothing to do with ethnicity, or hate for Serbs, it is just the sense of self-preservation - normal human behavior. The same goes for the Serbs who say that "Arkan was a saint" (as I was told by a K/Serb in Prokuple, in 2007) and "Mladic a hero", or the Croats who praise Franjo Tudjman for "cleaning the Serb cancer of Krajna" (a quote from a Croat newspaper article I've seen in Orasje, BiH, in 1997).
Based on that, I dare to say that none of the parts involved in conflict in Kosovo - Serbs and Albanians - are really ready to confront their own ghosts and exorcise their inner demons...
But why we should expect Serbs and Albanians to reconcile after 7 years since the 1999-war, since Macedonians and Greeks are not able to solve a "name problem", not even a "blood problem"... and this since 1991!
Regarding the USA and labeling the KLA a terrorist organization:
For a short period of time it was declared a "terrorist" organization, but this was based on Serbian propaganda. The United States, upon further examining the situation and realizing that the KLA was fighting Serbia, changed their characterization of the Kosova Liberation Army.
The United States, Canada, Germany, France, Britain, and other important Western nations DO NOT classify the KLA as a terrorist organization (nor have they since 1998, the year of the Drenica massacre by Serb).
Once again this shows that Serbs are living in the past, taking Serbian propaganda as "fact" and living by it.
I would ignore what happened today becuse this was expected. America has lost time and money for Kosovo's independence and wants by all means to prove to the world that there were higher causes for its independence. I hope Serbia will not loose time in polemics with America about this: I would personally leave it enjoy in the petty victory.
Can you ONCE (at least) for goodness sake say something neutral about Albanians in general.
From you one can only hear(like Milosevic, Seselj, Kostunica...rhetoric ) always victimising Serbs. According to your comments (though I am sure you know the truth, but intentionally dont comment that) Albanians are killers, rapists, organ traffickers, ICTY, US and EU are biased, Kosovo independence is unfair...etc.
I think, you should at least say a comment such as SOME ALBANIANS MAY BE bad (this and that)or for my limited knowledge you may be suffering from self-fulfilling prophecy 'disease'.
DO you think the Serbs have done good things during the war in Croatia, Bosnia adn Kosovo? (Please ask them and they will tell what Serbs have done in their territories)
I hope you dont represent the Serbia in international scene, because with such attitude you will remain the Belarus of the Balkans.
I guess your country's atocities in Kosovo made the State Department think twice about delcaring KLA a terrorist organization. You always provide us with these outdated documents that do not stand the test of time.
what would you call your army's actions in kosovo, bosnia, and croatia?
what would u call the international community's decision to releive Serbia of its actions in Bosnia, declaring it not responsible for the Genocide.
What was said in 1998 was subsequently corrected later that same year. please!!!
no one is trying to discredit you. I htink r10 was wrong to assume that you are Albanian.
as far as ICTY is concerned, the process is fact oriented, and the institution is non-political.
In most instances, the KLA refrained from systematically persecuting of innocent population.
And I don't think anyone is trying discredit you, but since we are on that subject, the ICTY ruling discredited you and your administration.
Lets remind ourselves that Milosevic died as an innocent man. The Hague had a lot of problems with their charges against him...
But, does this make Milosevic an innocent man?
(Ana, 3 April 2008 18:02)
do you really think, Milosevic died as an innocent man, Ana? his file was closed in Le Hague, because he died. this makes him no less guilty or unguilty as he was.
Ronald Reagen died a free man even though after his 8 year term his policy of war left 300 000 bodies in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador.
(BKK, 4 April 2008 00:28)
Ronald Reagan won the Cold War without firing a single shot against USSR.
Your logic it reminds me the movie "Nicija Zemlja" when the Bosnian soldier reading the newspaper in the trenches was suprised to read about the genocide in Rwanda while his comrades where being shot by Serbian soldiers.
The Hague is not Anti-Serb! This is how justice works in the real world. The man was indicted and turned himself in (unlike various Serbs). He stood trial without acting like a clown (unlike Milosevic). The prosecution failed to prove their case and he was acquited. Get over it! One more for the good guys.....
ICTY was set to impartially deal with the crimes committed against humanity in the former Yugoslavia.
The only ones that object such court is Milosevic regime, Seselj and their war machine not the ordinary Serb in majority.
No matter what the verdict would be, I think that this court is doing a excellent job.
I know that some Serbs don’t like this court since it brings to light the atrocities committed by Serbs forces but hey justice must be done.
R.Haradinaj set free. All the charges dropped. Yet another victory of K-Albanians and KLA in clearing their name. Serbian propagande seems not to be working perfectly.
Why should some people comment on everything as in justice for example? The decision is not political, it is a matter of the facts in the Court. The indictment against Haradinaj was based on MUP evidence, whose members along with other military forces committed crimes in Kosovo during 1999. Fortunately, ICTY is not a branch o MUP and this is why we Ramush Haradinaj was set free today. It seems that even God is against Serbia! It is obvious, since all of us are human and belong to the God and Serbia was the one who broke the God’s rule by killing so many innocent people in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. The trial against Serbian criminals goes on, so let`s wait and see if any of them was acused by mistake!
Liri, Canada
Justice prevails! I hope Serbs learn from their mistakes and come to terms with the reality. Hope you free yourselves from your propagandistic past. Kosova is free, so live and let live! Peace!
haradinaj was in switzerland when your troops and your paramilitary came in kosovo and committed crimes ,tortures and rapes.Do not forget what you have done in the dukagjini area:haradinaj came from switzerland in kosova to protect us from you and i thank him because he stopped your massacres and did not allow you to rape and kill all albanian women !
he has accepted to die so that we can be free.
I do not support him in politics;but as far as his war time is concerned ,i am gratefull to him for his engagement for our liberty!.
Once again justice prevails over propaganda and injustice. Haradinaj gave himself up willingly and immediately following his indictment. He respected the legality of the Hague War Crimes Tribunal and international law, and believed in their righteousness. He knew that all he had to do was plead his case and it would be discovered that this whole ordeal was orchestrated by Serbian propaganda and unreliable witnesses employed by Serbian bribery.
Haradinaj had nothing to hide, submitted himself willingly and graciously to the justice of the court, and was set free for his innocence of the charges against him. Naturally it seems the case was only entertained to begin with because the Serbs complain that the ICTY is biased against them, but hopefully they will realize that a majority of those guilty of war crimes are Serbs because it was the Serbs which brutally committed more war crimes than anyone else involved in the conflict!
Once again this is a victory for justice and fairness over Serbian propaganda and injustice and I'm very pleased with the outcome.
I guess your country's atocities in Kosovo made the State Department think twice about delcaring KLA a terrorist organization. You always provide us with these outdated documents that do not stand the test of time.
what would you call your army's actions in kosovo, bosnia, and croatia?
what would u call the international community's decision to releive Serbia of its actions in Bosnia, declaring it not responsible for the Genocide.
What was said in 1998 was subsequently corrected later that same year. please!!!
So much for the K-albanian concept of justice. Their so-called constitution is only fit to be used as toilet paper.
Funcakes:
This travesty of justice is indeed closed for now. It is not over. And you sir are to be condemned for your comments.
Olf:
If you regard this as a victory, then I feel sorry for you.
Randal Dewey:
Haradinaj turned himself in because he had the backing of Ruecker & co - there was tampering & withholding of evidence by them, not to mention witness intimidation by K-albanians & failure to guarantee the safety of said witnesses by UNMIK.
If you regard this as a 'victory for the good guys', then you are certainly as black as they come.
Unlike the Serb Generals who hide behind patriotism -- Haradinaj surrendered voluntarily. He gathered around himself some of the best lawyers in the world. Money may not buy you happiness but it certainly buys you freedom.
I knew from the beginning that his arrest was just a way to please some in the international community. Ramush could have not committed mass atrocities. He never had control of the Dukagjin area. He may have controlled some villages and that at night only but he never the area under his control.
Individuals and collaborators on the hand were attacked perhaps that’s what the prosecutions should have focused on instead of trying to prove that Ramush was trying to ethnically cleanse Serbs. Anyway court did its best. Some of us may agree with it and some of us may not agree with it.
It should serve future generations well not to start another conflict. It takes years to build a bridge but seconds to destroy it. We should always remember that. Even more important to this day there are still mothers on both sides of the aisle still searching for their missing sons and daughters.
Ana:
Please don't hide behind albanian witness name and dont pretend that you are one.
1) None of the witnesses spoke english.
2) If you were Albanian you would spell your Pristina as "Prishtina"
And yes I agree that there were crimes comited against serbs in kosovo, but not as organised and not as closse to what serbians did to albanians.
Diana said "what a load of rubbish- the KLA were declared a terrorist organisation."
This is blatantly untrue. Serbia declared the KLA a terrorist organization, but that's part of the Serbian propaganda . The West, including Western Europe, NATO, the United States, and Canada DO NOT consider the KLA to be a terrorist organization.
In fact, the KLA was trained, supported, and funded by both Germany and the US in particular: including US Senator John McCain, 2008 presidential candidate.
Regarding the USA and labeling the KLA a terrorist organization:
For a short period of time it was declared a "terrorist" organization, but this was based on Serbian propaganda. The United States, upon further examining the situation and realizing that the KLA was fighting Serbia, changed their characterization of the Kosova Liberation Army.
The United States, Canada, Germany, France, Britain, and other important Western nations DO NOT classify the KLA as a terrorist organization (nor have they since 1998, the year of the Drenica massacre by Serb).
Once again this shows that Serbs are living in the past, taking Serbian propaganda as "fact" and living by it.
I saw Haradinaj in The Hague court last year LIVE! Yes I was there...as was a protected witness (Albanian) talking about all the crimes comited by Haradinaj.
And Haradinaj was having a nap all day long...as if they were not talking about him...
If you heard what I heard that day comming out from the mouth of an Albanian protected witness saying about what they did to Albanias who did not follow their politics you can imagine what they did to Serbs...
But Haradinaj was having a nap...
That day I knew he was going to walk out of there as a free man...
Imagine what would have happened in Pristina today if he was sentenced to prision? Just try to imagine...
In this case, KFOR would need more that Polish and Ukrainan soldiers...
Lets remind ourselves that Milosevic died as an innocent man. The Hague had a lot of problems with their charges against him...
"Haradinaj, who stood accused of torture, murder, rape and deportation together with two other Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders, Lahi Brahimaj and Idriz Balaj, has been found not guilty on all counts of the indictment."
As "usual" the accusations made by Serbs and others were probably made up (according to the court considering the verdict). These are very serious crimes and letting terrorists and criminals like these walk away so easily has sent a very wrong message. This kangaroo court is 100% biased and political and should be closed immediately for tax money is waisted on it.
"Hague spokeswoman Olga Kavran told B92 earlier that the prosecution had brought forward over 80 witnesses during the case, though two key ones had failed to appear."
So 80 witnesses is not enough? Maybe the court should have put more effort to protect and bring the two key witnesses to The Hague if the feel this case was so important to them.
“A case for contempt of court is currently ongoing regarding that matter. So, the prosecution has been able to bring forward 81 witnesses, although two very important witnesses did not appear."
There should be a case for contempt against ignoring suffering by Serbs and others.
""There was a problem with witness intimidation, there was the fact that many witness appeared under protective measures, and that 18 subpoenas had to be issued, which meant that a court order had to be issued before these witness would come to testify,“ explained Kavran."
Could you please explain to us where these intimiditations came from? It would not surprise me if these came from Kosovo-Albanians. Are you not surprised or shocked? Most normal and descent people should stand by all the innocent victims who are looking for justice and who have been stapped in the back again by letting these criminals walk away like this.
"The prosecution called for 39-year old Haradinaj to be sentenced to 25 years imprisonment."
That would have been a minimum.
"The accused commanded the KLA during the war in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999, and until his voluntary surrender to the Hague, he was Kosovo prime minister."
Typical for the Kosovo Albanian society. It is almost like "The American Dream". From terrorist to PM. I am sure that when he surrendered "voluntary" that it was promised that he would be let free. Just another scam to fool the world.
"In a letter to the Tribunal on March 27, senior Kosovo officials demanded Haradinaj’s acquittal."
Let him free or else (judges will get killed, we will start attacking Serbs or even NATO, and so on). Princip UK wrote it so beautifully.
Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we plan to illegally wage war....ironic that the verdict comes out today during the NATO summit!
To finish I would like to express my sympathy and support to all those witnesses who have been used and thrown away and whose basic rights for justice have once again been stepped upon in the name of political games and a quest for money and power by a very small group of politicans that hopefully one day will be in The Hague for their true crimes against humanity.
This is really sick! But one must wonder what is the purpose of the court in Hague? That court is created only for Serbs and Serbia must stop cooperation with Hague and must close their office in Belgrade. Serbia must demand immediate release of all detained Serbs over there, especially Seselj’s release that is charged for verbal assault.
The is shame for the justice, this is shame for Europe, this is shame for entire law and justice system.
Murderers, rapists, organ traffickers set free, remember this day people because the justice works partially and selectively.
This is one reason more for Serbia to stay firm on its position in Kosovo and Serbs must never succumb to the Albanian criminals that rule over our province. I am sure it won’t be for long!
Another victory for NATO's friends, al-Qaeda and the narco-mafia.
This disgusting human being bragged about his crimes in his own autobiography.
The International Tribunal for Convicting Serbs While Letting Terrorists and Nazis Go Free, once again did as predicted.
Not surprising that the KLA's cheerleaders who post here on this website are gloating about 'justice' and grandstanding about the 'impartiality' of the courts. Pathetic.
The "human rights" police apparently support the murdering of teenage boys and mass executions of innocent civilians.
no one is trying to discredit you. I htink r10 was wrong to assume that you are Albanian.
as far as ICTY is concerned, the process is fact oriented, and the institution is non-political.
In most instances, the KLA refrained from systematically persecuting of innocent population.
And I don't think anyone is trying discredit you, but since we are on that subject, the ICTY ruling discredited you and your administration.
Lets remind ourselves that Milosevic died as an innocent man. The Hague had a lot of problems with their charges against him...
But, does this make Milosevic an innocent man?
(Ana, 3 April 2008 18:02)
do you really think, Milosevic died as an innocent man, Ana? his file was closed in Le Hague, because he died. this makes him no less guilty or unguilty as he was.
"Haradinaj stands accused of torture, murder, rape and deportation together with two other Kosovo Liberation Army"
Sounds like a group of animals to me. And to think Thachi was such a commander along with our old friend Mr. Ceku who has already had vast experience with "removing" (raiding, raping and raveging) Serbs from Bosnia
Any professional lawyer who followed this indictment and its proceedings would tell you that this whole case was a joke. Political prosecution at its worst. I predicted a year ago that this case would be thrown out. My comments published a year ago are below. Pay close attention to the prosecutions warning about the “ethic balance of the victims”.
When the trail chamber asked the prosecutor to drop more then half of the charges( for lack of evidence)that had people of Serbian ethnicity as victims, they responded this way:
"The prosecution warned the judges that this would disturb "the delicate balance" in the ethnic composition of the victims of the crimes Haradinaj, Balaj and Brahimaj are charged with."
This is disgusting to the extreme. The fact the prosecution would attempt to balance the ethnicity of the victims is very unprofessional. This case would have been thrown out in any normal court on ethical grounds.
(balkanupdate, 18 February 2007 06:31)
This is actually good news for Serbia. It is an undoubted and watertight proof that Hague is a political institution that has nothing to do with justice and has everything to do with punishing Serbia for not succumbing to western pressure. Together with Carla del Pontes book, this charade trial will put Hague in the history books. It is not a judgement for Haradinaj, it is a judgement of the Hague court and the result is crystal clear - miserable failure.
I did not say that harajdina did not have any lawyers; I said that he did not have a defense. That selective reading of yours is impairing your judgement.
The fact remains that ICTY is njot a political insitution; ruling is lways based on evidence and fact. Mr. harjdina Lawyers were so convinced of his innocence that they let the prosecutors--fed with MUP "evidence"--make a fool of themselves.
"haradinaj was in switzerland when your troops and your paramilitary came in kosovo and committed crimes ,tortures and rapes."
OK, let me remind you that Kosovo is part of Serbia so the military and the MUP was already there...And, yes, I understand what you want to say. They were so bored in Kosovo that one day they decided to start killing and raping. Nothing to do with what KLA was doing at the time...they were having tea in their backyards...
"haradinaj came from switzerland in kosova to protect us from you and i thank him because he stopped your massacres and did not allow you to rape and kill all albanian women!"
Oh what a heroe this Haradinaj is...So he decided not to be a doorman anymore but to come and fight for justice. What a nice men...Did he call upon talks with the Serbian authorities? How did he defend you exactly? With KLA, and of course, poor old KLA did not have arms...Really, this Serbs are monsters...
"he has accepted to die so that we can be free."
I do not see him dead, so I don't know how he decided to die. Please, explain to me...
Can you ONCE (at least) for goodness sake say something neutral about Albanians in general.
From you one can only hear(like Milosevic, Seselj, Kostunica...rhetoric ) always victimising Serbs. According to your comments (though I am sure you know the truth, but intentionally dont comment that) Albanians are killers, rapists, organ traffickers, ICTY, US and EU are biased, Kosovo independence is unfair...etc.
I think, you should at least say a comment such as SOME ALBANIANS MAY BE bad (this and that)or for my limited knowledge you may be suffering from self-fulfilling prophecy 'disease'.
DO you think the Serbs have done good things during the war in Croatia, Bosnia adn Kosovo? (Please ask them and they will tell what Serbs have done in their territories)
I hope you dont represent the Serbia in international scene, because with such attitude you will remain the Belarus of the Balkans.
The Hague set up is as everyone is only too aware a political institution and has nothing to do with actual justice.
Thus the verdict will be political in nature and the decision will balance on whether a conviction would set off riots by ethnic Albanians and provide Serbia with even more evidence that its military had to act to quell violent insurgency (even if over handed any other soverign UN state would justify the same) or an acquital would send a message that thuggery and intimidation of all can continue - hardly likely to help ease tensions either way!
In sum this has nothing to do with justice but is blatantly political!
Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we plan to illegally wage war....ironic that the verdict comes out today during the NATO summit!
neutra and all the other serbs here.
Albanians
1) are already in NATO (Albania)
2) signed ASA one year ago (Albania)
3) have 2 states (Albania and Kosovo/a)
It's like every time something good happens to an Albanian, Serbia complains about the international law being broken.
But as soon as someone starts mentioning the Serb role in the Yugoslavia break-up...then all of a sudden everyone else is guilty for making Serbia do it.
that's not how international law works, sorry. You need to elect better lawyers next time.
And so after all this time the verdict will be announced this afternoon...
After the pronouncement all eyes will be on Kosovo to see the reaction. I expect that Haradinaj will receive a light sentence. The prosecution didn't do a very good job (as in a number of cases including Seselj's so far) and this sentence could be dynamite on how it affects Kosovo. I also can't see how the Hague can possibly risk an outbreak of mass protest / violence so perhaps this will be the most political verdict of all the cases so far.
There we go as I said this has nothing to do with justice - it is all political and it would just not do to find that the US and the 'few' EU aided and abetted in war crimes.
This is hardly a mesage which will instill confidence in the non-albanian population nor for that matter even some within the ethnic-Albanian as the turf war begins anew!
Fact remains Lahi Brahimaj got 6 years and clearly despite all the intmidation the trail leads back up the command chain to Haradinaj!
Have patience Serbs - Wait and see what will happen in time. Today the Albanians are rejoicing at an uncertain future ( a fake state in someone else's country) - tomorrow they will be begging for the past! The hague had to let Haradinaj go free - If the truth about the KLA came out now, one can only imagine how little support the US could buy for this so called 'independence'.
p.s
Once again they -(guess who I mean) have backed the WRONG side!! ;-)
Shame on the ICTY!!! Justice is proved to be blind when it comes to murder, rape and mistreatment of non albanians! Obviously a done deal prior to the declaration of independence. No doubt del ponte will now in hinesight come up with yet another revelation, too little too late.
Culpable by their inaction
The whole of the international community has the blood of the innocent on their hands!!!
Wow, Im amazed by this new love-connection between Western Europe and Albania.... honestly, maybe Albanians should consider immigrating to UK, FRA, GER.. You would be heartly welcomed there!
No surprise there. "The Hague" is just another branch of US/NATO military, almost as destructive and inconsiderate as the US Air Force itself. I am of course frustrated with the verdict, however, looking at the big picture it's almost better this way. There is no doubt left that nothing is as it appears, and everything is as we assumed. But not to worry, it's only matter of time until Albanians outlive their usefulness and are "thrown under the bus", the same way Sadam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, Manuel Noriega and many others outlived theirs. US is a terrible enemy and even worst friend.
I would ignore what happened today becuse this was expected. America has lost time and money for Kosovo's independence and wants by all means to prove to the world that there were higher causes for its independence. I hope Serbia will not loose time in polemics with America about this: I would personally leave it enjoy in the petty victory.
RE: "neutra and all the other serbs here.
Albanians
1) are already in NATO (Albania)
2) signed ASA one year ago (Albania)
3) have 2 states (Albania and Kosovo/a)
(Aleksander,"
And you forgot to say that you still are the poorest country in Europe...
We were even told by Albanians that you do not have hospitals in Albania for organ transplants or doctors that can perform this type of operation...
But good for you that you are in NATO! I'm sure it will change your lifes a bit!
I cannot say about Haradinaj being involved in war crimes, since I have nothing to do with the Kosovo conflict (I'm Romanian) but I know that he is feared by many in Kosovo, Serbs and Albanians alike. So are many others, ex-UCK leaders. Fear is a form of respect, unfortunately many people tend to see only the respect and prefer to ignore the fear behind it.
On the other hand, during my stay in Kosovo, for couple years, I was able to see that most of K/Albanians are, on the record, satisfied with the war conduct of "UCK heroes" who "fought the liberation war". Off the record, I was told by many K/Albanians that a significant number of UCK people are/were just crazy people doing crazy things during the war, and getting rich because of that.
Matter of fact, I've got the impression that the only ex-UCK people really respected by the common people (K/Albanians) - meaning respect, not fear - are part of one of this two categories: those who died fighting, and those who are not rich today.
But to come forward and say this would be impossible for any sane K/Albanian, and this has nothing to do with ethnicity, or hate for Serbs, it is just the sense of self-preservation - normal human behavior. The same goes for the Serbs who say that "Arkan was a saint" (as I was told by a K/Serb in Prokuple, in 2007) and "Mladic a hero", or the Croats who praise Franjo Tudjman for "cleaning the Serb cancer of Krajna" (a quote from a Croat newspaper article I've seen in Orasje, BiH, in 1997).
Based on that, I dare to say that none of the parts involved in conflict in Kosovo - Serbs and Albanians - are really ready to confront their own ghosts and exorcise their inner demons...
But why we should expect Serbs and Albanians to reconcile after 7 years since the 1999-war, since Macedonians and Greeks are not able to solve a "name problem", not even a "blood problem"... and this since 1991!
Will reserve my opinion on the impartiality of the Hague until I see what the ruling on Haradinaj is.
My criticism was primarily directed at those 'Kosovo officials' that have 'demanded' an acquital. Question is, is this how K-albanian justice works in Kosovo?
The majority of those who have committed crimes against the serbs in Kosovo over the last 8yrs have gone unpunished.
No, I must admit to feeling a little sick - not because this is a defeat for Serbia.
No, I know from good information that many of these charges against Haradinaj were true. Of course most Albanians will celebrate, but I hope that some Albanians will stop to think about whether people like Haradinaj and his clan are the problem or the solution.
So much for international law and order.Today`s hand washing of hardinaj crimes ends any doubt that there is no justice.
Or they might be counting on thachi &co to finish their job.
SHAME
what a load of rubbish- the KLA were declared a terrorist organisation- the fact that he was a KLA member/terrorist says it all. The West is guttless in the face of intimidation and this is why they have set him free- for political purposes- nothing else. Serbia would be better turning it's back on the corrupt EU -they will never get justice because if they did it would mean that NATO and the EU would be proved to be the villians and they are not big enough to admit their mistakes.
First I never said I was Albanian, nor would I pretend to be one. Do not know were you got that crazy idea...
Secon: Did I mention that the ALBANIAN protected witness was speaking in English? NO...
Imagine, it is a PROTECTED witness. Do you know what that means? You do not see the face of the person, you only hear the voice. And yes, there were a lot of PROTECTED witnesses, because if you knew anything regarding this case, you would know that nine witnesses were killed in Kosovo and many of them were afraid to come and testify because of it...Trust me, you won't find their names anywhere or they would vanish in the night in Kosovo as some already have...
If you knew anything about how the ICTY works, then you would KNOW that there is a huge amount of people who have been working there as simultaneous translators all the time. Half of the persons that are on trial do not speak English...
Regarding your last comment of the post that there were killings of Serbs but they were not organised...well, I must say I find your statement rather psycho...So if the crimes were not organised then you should not face justice and should not be indited for them?
Nice justice you are talking about...
So do not try to discredit me, because you can't...
As far as your knowledge s conserned: Do you even know were The Hague is?
Ronald Reagen died a free man even though after his 8 year term his policy of war left 300 000 bodies in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador.
(BKK, 4 April 2008 00:28)
Ronald Reagan won the Cold War without firing a single shot against USSR.
Your logic it reminds me the movie "Nicija Zemlja" when the Bosnian soldier reading the newspaper in the trenches was suprised to read about the genocide in Rwanda while his comrades where being shot by Serbian soldiers.
"Haradinaj stands accused of torture, murder, rape and deportation together with two other Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders, Lahi Brahimaj and Idriz Balaj
...
There was a problem with witness intimidation, there was the fact that many witness appeared under protective measures, and that 18 subpoenas had to be issued
...
In a letter to the Tribunal on March 27, senior Kosovo officials demanded Haradinaj’s acquittal. "
These same people have just signed a constitution guaranteeing human rights, respect of minorities & the rule of law.
Olf and Randal are completely ignorant of the fact that even del Ponte accused UNMIK of deliberately destroying documents and fostering the intimidation of witnesses in the Haradinaj case. I don't know what country you gentleman live in, but I can assure you--as someone living in a Democratic society--that the murder of witnesses is frowned upon in the western world. Again, these claims come from del Ponte herself.
On multiple other occasions, we see even the most Western of Serbs such as Kandic decry the Hague operations when they let animals such as Naser Oric loose, and turn a blind eye to 30 Serb prisoners having their organs harvested in Albania, or refuse to indct undisputed war criminals like Ceku.
Again, these are Hague sources such as Del Ponte who acknowledge the favoritism of those who are not Serbs.
Olf and Randal don't have a leg to stand on in this case.
RE; Shqype "In fact, the KLA was trained, supported, and funded by both Germany and the US in particular: including US Senator John McCain, 2008 presidential candidate."
Thank you for enlightining us! I mean we knew it all along but it does sound less Serbian propaganda when an Albanian KLA member confirms it. Now we know (and you know) why you were recognised by the US and EU as an independent country and now we know why Haradinaj walked as a free man today...
Another ICTY kick in the teeth for Justice. If you're not going to prosecute your little buddies why indict them in the first place? Just be men and say straight out "Ramush is our toy who did what we wanted so we're going to protect him from justice". Why bother with the charade?
i am shocked, speechless. Serbia really should now turn away from the EU, get Northern Kosovo in its ranks and turn towards Russia. It is clear, Serbia has NOTHING to expect from this EU. Just look at Switzerland, they survive without the EU also!
A shame for justice, a shame for the truth!
The Hague is not Anti-Serb! This is how justice works in the real world. The man was indicted and turned himself in (unlike various Serbs). He stood trial without acting like a clown (unlike Milosevic). The prosecution failed to prove their case and he was acquited. Get over it! One more for the good guys.....
(Randal Dewey, 3 April 2008 17:42)
This wasn't justice - it was complete fake - no defence witnesses were ever questioned, key witnesses did not appear. Perhaps all Serbs should do the same and then there will be no case to prove...this decision is an appalling and is another kick in the teeth to the great Serbian nation. We Serbs are at the crossroads...do we need to turn to EU? I think not. Do we need the SAA? I think not. We can survive by working with partners throughout the world - not just our 'backstabbers'/US puppets in the EU!
there are no crimes commited aganst Serbs in Kosova thats why there are no people arrested.
(Olf, 3 April 2008 17:40)
This is from a Dutch website (www.nu.nl): "Brahimaj is wel schuldig bevonden omdat hij persoonlijk heeft gemarteld. De rechters komen verder tot de conclusie dat UÇK-militairen "een groot aantal misdaden" hebben begaan, die echter veelal de verdachten in deze zaak niet persoonlijk kunnen worden aangerekend."
Translated: "Brahimaj has been found guilty because he himself tortured prisoners. The judges furthermore concluded that KLA military were responsible for a great number of crimes, but the defendants could not be held responsible for these crimes."
Apparently, the KLA did commit a great number of crimes Olf!
Just like we thought that Legija is a hero,untill that hero killed our future...that is how people of Kosovo are yet to discover the deamons of their past...war criminals are not good for any side...they are a black spot of society....
"This is blatantly untrue. Serbia declared the KLA a terrorist organization, but that's part of the Serbian propaganda . The West, including Western Europe, NATO, the United States, and Canada DO NOT consider the KLA to be a terrorist organization.
In fact, the KLA was trained, supported, and funded by both Germany and the US in particular: including US Senator John McCain, 2008 presidential candidate.
(Shqype, 3 April 2008 21:27)"
What planet are you from and in how much denial do and can you live? Please check out the two following links (from your favorite USA).
"Last year, while State Department officials labeled the KLA a terrorist organization, saying it bankrolled its operations with proceeds from the heroin trade and from loans from known terrorists like bin Laden, the department listed the group as an "insurgency" organization in its official reports. The officials charged that the KLA used terrorist tactics to assault Serbian and ethnic Albanian civilians in a campaign to achieve independence."
I am happy that you confirm yourself what all Serbians posting here already know for the past 10 years. That Germany and the US funded and trained the KLA. Serbia does not have to make propanda and it has actually been the twenty years or so anti-Serbia propaganda by the West that has caused a tremendous amount of suffering. In the future stop insulting people's intelligence here by posting lies and making a fool of yourself. The KLA was suddenly removed for the now ell-known reasons. Regarding McCain the following. Of course he will be less worst than Bush, but Europe has to embrace itself for continuing instability for the US Balkan policy will most unlikely not change or even get worse.
Do you really think that after this staged trial Serbia would send Karadzic and Mladic to the Hague? This is a politic court and it's not about justice.
Nonetheless, Mladic and Karadzic should be arrested and respond to the grave accusations against them. I think the best would be to try them in Serbia and to transmit the whole trial by television so that everybody could follow the proceedings. The US never admit their citizens be tried by an international court, Serbia should do the same.
Nobody should be surprised by this decision. This is not, nor was it ever, a real court of law. This is a kangaroo court, built for propoganda purposes to demonize the Serbs and make the real criminals, terrorists, and organ traffickers look like angels.
Like I said before, no Serb should recognize this court. It has about as much to do with justice as McDonalds has to do with health food.
This is blatantly untrue. Serbia declared the KLA a terrorist organization, but that's part of the Serbian propaganda . The West, including Western Europe, NATO, the United States, and Canada DO NOT consider the KLA to be a terrorist organization.
In fact, the KLA was trained, supported, and funded by both Germany and the US in particular: including US Senator John McCain, 2008 presidential candidate.
(Shqype, 3 April 2008 21:27)
You do not understand anything - just check the internet before you type your nonsense! To quote UN State Department..
"Declared a terrorist organization by the US State Department in 1998, the group has long been known to be an equal opportunity criminal organization, killing
Serbians, Gypsies, and fellow Albanians without discrimination."
Serbia - one true great nation shall live on....with Kosovo
I think pretty much everyone knows that is is a kangaroo court. And who doesn't must have been living under a rock.
Same applies to the court set up for Uganda.
If those truly were courts of justice we would have had many many many American, French (for that genocide in Algeria that noone bothers about) and English soldiers commanders and politicians sitting up there letting Asia, Africa and South America bring the verdict for their punishments.
Ronald Reagen died a free man even though after his 8 year term his policy of war left 300 000 bodies in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador.
What kind of justice are we talking about? Please.
In Hague everyone is innocent until proven a Serb.
Lets not get carried away here.
The fact is that witnesses were intimidated and the judges remarked on it in their report - I posted the link, its in English above.
If you read carefully you will see that much of the first half of the report is dwelling on this - almost as an explanation as to why Haradinaj would be found not guilty.
So yes to the Serb side I say this was a travesty and the timing of the verdict was political. But since numerous witnesses were intimidated even impartial judges would have a problem finding Haradinaj on the serious charges. On the face of it this judgement isnt so unexpected - even if the trial was fair.
Perhaps the judges would have made a political decision supporting the Albanian troika even, if there was more evidence to convict them, but we can't know for sure. Alongside this fact is the openly opposing opinion by one judge who stated in the ruling that Balaj should have been found guilty on a particular charge which would have seen him imprisoned.
Moreover, this is worrying from the point of view of international justice. The message being sent is that threatening witnesses is a successful way of defending oneself, because there is no sanction - if a state entity (Kosovo authorities) is covering up for its suspected war criminals by not protecting witnesses, those same authorities (internationals) given bribes / threats against themselves.
To the Albanian side I'd say this is a hollow victory. The only joy you can get from this (and its not healthy) is that it is upsetting to Serb, Roma and Albanian victims of Haradinaj and his thugs. Yes it might be fun to score another minor 'victory' against the Serbs, but that kind of thinking makes monsters out of you. I mean that with no offense.
Haradinaj is returning, do you really want these kind of men ruling Kosovo? What kind of European future can you expect with this? Is it more important to score some kind of perceived victory against Serbs, than to think about your own, who will have to suffer in a society where men like Haradinaj are Alfa and Omega? This is a serious problem - surely you must see it.
At best this 'victory' is bittersweet for Albanians. I'd say it was a loss for humanity .
Do not extradite ANY MORE alledged "war criminals". Ask for those Serbs there to be returned to Serbia IMMEDIATELY. Demand retribution for families of those convicted and or have died waiting for "justice". Cut all cooperation with ICTY and demand that Haradinaj, along with Thaci be extrodited to Belgrade.
"For a short period of time it was declared a "terrorist" organization, but this was based on Serbian propaganda. The United States, upon further examining the situation and realizing that the KLA was fighting Serbia, changed their characterization of the Kosova Liberation Army."
The US only removed the terrorist label of the KLA because they chose (political and economic)interests above moral. Either you will get dumped because interests have changed or you will stap your masters in the back because you will feel betrayed or used. It is all so predictable, because history will repeat itself and people do not want to learn from it.
"Judge Orie remarked that the trial chamber had difficulty getting witnesses to testify because many were too frightened to appear before the court."
That pretty much says it all - and that was the JUDGE'S quote! I wish I could say I am shocked, but anyone who knows anything about how Albanian society works knows that witness intimidation and threats would keep most witnesses from coming forward.
What a Ruse this court has turned out to be. Karadzic and Mladic should be tried (and hopefully convicted) in courts in Bosnia and/or Serbia. This monkey court is completely incapable of handling even the most black-and-white trials. Too much Western political influence. Too much anti-Serb sentiment. Another careless reward for the K-Albanians given by their Western masters.
Criminals rarely reform themselves... it won't take long until these clowns are making another mess....
This verdict has nothing to do with justice. It serves political needs, that is all. Haradinaj was a high ranking officer of the UCK at a time and at a place where and when atrocities were committed. Regardless of whether he personally ordered or supervised war crimes, his position makes him legally responsible for what happened. This crucial principle has been established in Nuremberg and has been applied in The Hague in trials against Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian war criminals. Without this principle of responsibility by position, no war crime tribunals would be possible and this would mean the end of justice. But as far as Kosovo Albanians are concerned there seems to be no need for that as long as the political needs of certain countries are served.
shqype criticised and denied my comment that the KLA were branded a terrorist organisation by others other than serbia (item51)After other postings he backpeddles and says that after 1998 they weren't branded terrorists after being trained by the USA Germany etc.(item 64) Your point shqype? You now agree that they were branded a terrorist organisation in 1998? Wasn't this the year some of the charges were against this man? Therefore you agree with my comment that this man was a member of a terrorist organisation at the time of charges against him- end of story. I am writing from the UK and am ashamed of my country's lies and hypocracy. Diana
The U.S. will NEVER turn any of its citizens over to the Hague for war crime trials. Serbia should follow the U.S. example and immediately stop arresting Serbs and turning them over to the Hague. If any Serbian citizens are sent to the Hague to stand trial then the problem is with the Serbian government and not the Hague.
hey olf . im about as far away from a serb as you can get , this verdict is an insult and an injustice to all balkan people . you speak like you know something we dont ? wake up . this man is guilty ... and they expect serbia to hand over radovan etc etc ???
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