Ursula von der Leyen in Pristina: Hague verdict must be respected

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said in Pristina that the verdict from The Hague must be fully respected and that it was issued by an independent judicial body. Von der Leyen made the remarks during a joint press conference with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, while on a visit to Kosovo as part of her Balkan tour.

"The judgment of the Specialist Chambers caused strong emotions. I appreciate your measured reaction, as well as the reaction of political leaders who call for calm," von der Leyen said at the press conference.

Responses in Pristina

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the court had made it clear that the purpose of the ruling was never to undermine justice or the legitimacy of the liberation war. At the same time, Kurti voiced concern about other aspects of the judgment and the heavy sentences, expressing the expectation that those points will be addressed in the appeals process.

Asked about a proposal by the Democratic Party of Kosovo to change laws that would limit the jurisdiction of the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, von der Leyen said the decision on that matter belongs to Kosovo, but stressed that it is important to guarantee the independence of the judiciary.

Von der Leyen also stressed the narrower legal focus of the verdict: "But one thing is clear — this judgment is about the individual responsibility of the accused. The resistance of Kosovo was not on trial. We must preserve the memory of all victims from all communities."

The Kosovo parliament adopted a declaration rejecting the verdict against former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army as unacceptable. Von der Leyen appealed for calm and urged that the memory of victims be respected across communities.

Photo: EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET