Former President Meidani: Close the Special Court, the accusations against the KLA are serving Serbia and Russia!

The debate over the request of the Prosecutor's Office of the Special Court in The Hague for sentences totaling 180 years in prison for former KLA leaders has provoked strong reactions in Kosovo and Albania. In a statement to Top Channel regarding the issue, former Albanian President Rexhep Meidani described the indictment as unfair and rejected claims that the history of the liberation war is being changed.

Meidani, who led Albania from 1997 to 2002, including the period of the war in Kosovo, stated that "it is a shameful and disappointing indictment decision," but added that the history of the war cannot be alienated.

"It is impossible to change the true narrative of Kosovo's liberation war and of the international community that made a great contribution to helping the Albanian people of Kosovo gain freedom," he said.

According to him, the current approach of the Special Court does not match the position that, according to him, international opinion had during the war years.

"Absolutely, the entire international opinion was in favor of the Albanian people of Kosovo and against Serbian revanchism," Meidani said.

Speaking about the beginnings of the process that led to the creation of the Special Court, he mentioned as a starting point the accusations of organ trafficking raised years ago by the former chief prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal, Carla Del Ponte.

"A false situation was created, which began with a publication by Carla Del Ponte. Then the matter was transferred to the Council of Europe file and the pressure continued until the political forces in Kosovo agreed to the creation of the Special Court outside the territory of Kosovo," he said.

Meidani stressed that he personally did not agree with the creation of this structure, although he did not hold an official position at the time. According to him, the court's approval was made with the rationale that the process would be verified and finally clarified.

Asked if he believes the accusations of serious crimes against former KLA leaders, Meidani said:

"I never believed it. They were leaders with emotion and a desire to liberate the country, willing to sacrifice their lives."

He also spoke about a visit to The Hague, where he said he had noticed fatigue and disappointment among the defendants, while mentioning that one of them "kept his humor and was painting."

Finally, the former president raised the issue of the role of Kosovo institutions, suggesting that the Kosovo Assembly should reflect on the continuity of the Special Court.

"The Kosovo Assembly must act. It is even late. It must think about adjustments in the legislation, or about ending this court, or for it to be a fully international structure without direct involvement of the state of Kosovo," Meidani declared.