Albanian parliament issues unanimous declaration against conviction of former KLA leaders

Albania’s Parliament issued a declaration on Thursday on the verdict of the Hague Specialized Chambers for Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi read the declaration, according to which Parliament stands against the conviction of the former KLA leaders.

In a rare moment, majority and opposition joined together to oppose the Hague decision, as the declaration was applauded by all MPs.

“A decision we consider unjust toward Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi. Parliament reiterates a historical truth: the KLA war was a war for the freedom and liberation of Kosovo; it was the war of a people to end repression, violence and persecution. It was born as a response to systematic repression, ethnic cleansing and the genocide committed by Milošević. The KLA was the decisive force of the resistance of the people of Kosovo. Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi are inseparable from this history, from Kosovo’s journey toward freedom.”

[to be continued…]