Strategy for former KLA leaders, Çitaku and Arifi confirm actions without revealing details

The working group composed of representatives of institutions and political parties is continuing to draft the strategy in support of former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), convicted at first instance by the Specialist Chambers in The Hague. Its members say concrete steps have been taken and that the parties are coordinating, but they are not making public the content of the strategy or the actions carried out.

Vlora Çitaku, acting chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo and a member of the Strategic Council, told KosovaPress that members have agreed to keep the process confidential. According to her, they have also signed a declaration, which she described as an oath to preserve confidentiality.

Çitaku assessed that there is good coordination and serious engagement among the parties. She said that revealing every step would diminish the group’s strategic character and that its work should be judged by deeds, not by public statements.

The Secretary General of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Avni Arifi, also confirmed that political parties have undertaken the actions they consider necessary and indispensable, without providing details about them. He said the group has met and that its members themselves have confirmed some of the actions taken.

Arifi expressed the desire for the group to be functional and to work with defense teams to secure the logistical, financial and all other capacities needed for the defense of former KLA leaders, with the aim of a verdict desired by the people. He stressed that he cannot share the actions of political parties with the public.

Former ambassador Sylë Ukshini assessed that the strategy should pay special attention to diplomacy. According to him, while defense teams deal with the legal aspect, the working group should lobby in European capitals and make public the findings on violations that, according to him, the Special Court has committed.

Ukshini said the strategy should not become too public and that, from the statements of some group members, his impression is that work is being done seriously. He called this good news and in Kosovo’s national interest. The former ambassador also mentioned the possibility that the final appointment of the American ambassador should not be delayed, so that Washington has a voice in Pristina. According to him, the position that the Special Court has deviated from the purpose for which it was created should be conveyed to the Americans.

The working group is led by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Glauk Konjufca. So far, it has held two meetings.

Meanwhile, in the Assembly of Kosovo, the procedure continues for amending and supplementing the law that regulates the functioning of the Specialist Chambers. The Assembly approved the law on October 6, while President Justina Shiroka-Pula returned it for reconsideration on October 22, following a request from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK).

The issue was included on the agenda of the November 12 and 13 session, but was not put to a vote due to a lack of quorum.