Gucati appeals to the EU and ambassadors: Don’t play politics with the September 16 verdict in The Hague

The Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans Organization has reacted ahead of the announcement of the first-instance verdict against former KLA leaders in The Hague, expressing concern that recent statements by international representatives about the possibility of an appeal may signal a guilty verdict on September 16.

The head of the KLA War Veterans Organization (OVL-UÇK), Hysni Gucati, in a Facebook post appealed to the European Union and foreign ambassadors not to play politics with the decision of the Specialist Chambers, as he put it.

Gucati reacted to statements by diplomats and the EU that the judicial process does not end with the first-instance verdict, since the parties have the right to appeal.

“They’re just short of saying directly: ‘Don’t stop us from convicting them once, because on appeal we’ll declare them innocent,'” Gucati wrote.

According to him, such an approach would constitute “a dirty political game with the levels of justice.”

The head of the OVL-UÇK claims that a possible guilty verdict at first instance would produce political and diplomatic consequences for Kosovo, even if it were later overturned on appeal.

“An unjust verdict at first instance is not undone by an acquittal at second instance. The damage to Kosovo is done that day. History is rewritten that day. Serbia exploits it that day,” he stated.

Gucati claims Serbia would use such a verdict on the international stage, including at the United Nations, in efforts toward the derecognition of Kosovo and in its diplomatic campaign against Kosovo’s statehood.

He also harshly criticized the work of the Specialist Court, claiming it has not acted as an independent institution and that during its years of operation it has produced a narrative that, according to him, has served Serbia.

According to Gucati, the consequences of a verdict linking the KLA war to criminality would not be limited to the four accused.

“From that courtroom, the KLA war would be criminalized worldwide. And with it, the legitimacy of Kosovo’s liberation, the NATO intervention and the very statehood of the Republic of Kosovo would be affected,” he wrote.

The head of the OVL-UÇK also warned that a verdict the veterans would consider unjust could produce new tensions.

“An unjust verdict does not bring peace, but conflict,” Gucati stated, calling on the international community not to “play with the wounds” of Kosovo’s citizens.

In the end, he repeated the appeal to the EU and diplomatic representatives.

“Therefore, the APPEAL that KLA veterans address to the EU and foreign ambassadors is not to play politics with the September 16 verdict at the Specialist Court. Don’t play with our wounds anymore! Don’t make this mistake!” Gucati concluded. /Telegrafi.