Ursula von der Leyen: The Hague ruling must be implemented; “no one and nothing” can rewrite Kosovo’s history

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Pristina on Thursday that the guilty verdict handed down by the court in The Hague against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders must be implemented, adding that “no one and nothing” can rewrite Kosovo’s history.

At a news conference following meetings with Kosovo’s leaders, she recalled that the September 16 ruling sentencing Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi to prison for war crimes was issued by an independent judicial institution.

Speaking about the reactions to the ruling, von der Leyen said: “The Specialist Chambers’ ruling has sparked strong emotions. I appreciate your measured response and that of the political leaders who are calling for calm.”

She added: “This ruling was issued by an independent judicial institution, and its mandate must be respected.”