Haxhiu: The Assembly should have expressed its position on the unfair verdict

The speaker of the Kosovo Assembly and acting president, Albulena Haxhiu, said it was essential for the Assembly to adopt a statement on the verdict against the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

During the “Debat Plus” program, in an interview with host Ermal Panduri, Haxhiu said the statement was important not only for the present, but also for the future, as younger generations should be familiar with the institution’s position on the decision.

“After the unfair decision, it was very important for the Kosovo Assembly to voice its position on this verdict. Perhaps not only in today’s circumstances, but also many years from now, when we talk about such a decision, the young men and women of the Republic of Kosovo should know what the role of the Assembly was,” Haxhiu declared.

She also addressed the criticism concerning the Assembly’s delay in convening and adopting the statement. According to her, the institution was in a situation being challenged before the Constitutional Court, just like the government.

“We assessed that we should wait for the Constitutional Court’s decision. There had been no constitutional measure,” she said.

Haxhiu also discussed the public climate following the verdict against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi, stressing that tension and inflammatory language had emerged in television debates and on the streets.

“I considered it important to let several days pass and then reach the Assembly, agree on such a statement, which is an expression of the political will of the Kosovo Assembly,” Haxhiu said.

She clarified that the adopted document does not produce legal consequences, but carries political importance, particularly because of the joint message and unity demonstrated by the parliamentary parties.

“It has no legal weight, but it is important to convey a message and demonstrate that all parliamentary groups – the Vetëvendosje Movement, PDK, LDK, AAK and the non-majority communities – have managed to come together and adopt a statement,” Haxhiu declared.