Rama from New York: I feel betrayed by Joe Biden, they could have done more for Hashim Thaçi

Prime Minister Edi Rama delivered a strongly critical message from New York regarding the United States and former US President Joe Biden over the way the case of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi has been handled.

Speaking at a gala evening organized by the Council for Albanian-American Relations, Rama said the United States had the opportunity to intervene more decisively to prevent the proceedings that ultimately resulted in Thaçi’s conviction by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.

Speaking about former US President Joe Biden, the Albanian prime minister said Thaçi had been “betrayed” by a country that, in his view, should have offered him greater support.

“Hashim Thaçi is not with us here because this country betrayed him. Joe Biden, who called him ‘the George Washington of Kosovo,’ betrayed him. Although General Clark and several outstanding American friends did their best, this country did not do its best for Hashim Thaçi,” Rama said.

Rama explained that by “betrayal” he meant his belief that the United States should have done more for the former leaders of the KLA, particularly by not allowing the proceedings to begin.

“I am sure that this country could have done more, first of all by not allowing this farce to begin,” he declared.

Meanwhile, the head of the Albanian government expressed his gratitude to US General Wesley Clark, praising his personal contribution in support of Kosovo.

Rama distinguished this role from his criticism of the United States’ position regarding the case of Hashim Thaçi.