Gashi defends his stance on the Hague verdict: “It was a personal position — even as Speaker I have the right to my opinion”

The Speaker of the Assembly of North Macedonia, Afrim Gashi, today defended his stance on the verdict of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague against four leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army — Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi — who were found guilty at first instance of war crimes.

“It was a personal position — even as Speaker of the Assembly I have the right to have my own opinion,” Gashi said, adding that, although he is the first person of the Assembly, as a citizen he enjoys the right to privacy and to a personal stance on sensitive issues.

His statement comes after, on September 17, immediately after the verdict was announced, Gashi had reacted on Facebook, writing that “no verdict can deny the fact that Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi are part of the glorious chapter of Kosovo’s history… for the Albanian people, they are and remain liberators of Kosovo… today’s verdict is at first instance, because the battle for justice continues.”

The reaction provoked sharp criticism from the opposition. SDSM called Gashi’s reaction “completely inappropriate,” stressing that he exercises a state function and is a representative of a state aspiring to European Union membership. According to the opposition, there cannot be double standards: the verdicts of international courts must be respected, while the court judges individuals, not the Albanian people.

Source: Nezavisen