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Former Kosovo president Thaçi sentenced to 25 years in prison
Former Kosovo Liberation Army commander and later Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi has been sentenced to 25 years in prison as he is held criminally responsible for war crimes during the violent break from Serbia in the 1990s by the international court in The Hague.
Thaçi had denied all charges.
I will bring you more on this shortly.
Here is the background to this story:
“As prosecutors presented their case against Thaci and fellow defendants Rexhep Selemi, Kadri Veseli and Jakup Krasniqi – all senior figures in the KLA’s leadership during the war against Serb forces from 1998 to 1999 – they described an alleged campaign of murder, torture and repression against opponents and members of ethnic minorities directed by the four men. …
The proceedings, deeply unpopular in Kosovo and neighbouring Albania, recall the period of brutal conflict between 1998 and 1999 where both Serbian and Kosovan armed organisations committed war crimes in the context of the KLA’s armed uprising and Belgrade’s military response.
His supporters gathered in Kosovo earlier today to listen to the verdict:
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The Thaçi verdict comes at a striking moment for the former Yugoslavia. Just days ago, thousands of people gathered in Belgrade to mourn and celebrate Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb military commander convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. As Ana Milosavljevic and Oliver Holmes write in this report, the convicted war criminal was given a “hero’s funeral” on 7 September, complete with military honours, while Serbia’s Orthodox patriarch spoke of the “deep sense of gratitude” felt towards him by many Serbs.
Both Thaçi and Mladić continue to be regarded as heroes by significant sections of their respective communities (Thaçi by many Kosovo Albanians, and Mladić by many Serb nationalists) illustrating the deeply divided ways in which the wars of the former Yugoslavia are remembered.
Back to Hashim Thaçi’s sentencing, the former Kosovan president who was handed a 25-year prison term after being found guilty of war crimes, we have a brief statement from Amnesty . Its deputy director for Europe, Esther Major, said:
These convictions give hope to thousands of victims of the Kosovo war who have waited for more than two decades to get justice for the horrific crimes committed against them and to know the fate of their loved ones.
These convictions show that senior officials are not above the law.
These verdicts give hope that any attempt to obstruct justice, truth and reparation will not be tolerated, and that the victims and relatives of the missing will finally see justice.”
As commander of the Kosovo liberation army (KLA), Thaçi led its violent independence fight against Serbia in the 1990s. He was sentenced alongside three other top commanders of the now-disbanded KLA at a special tribunal in The Hague, known as the Kosovo specialist chambers, for war crimes including arbitrary detention, torture and murder.
European Union invites Canada to become first ever ‘associate member’
Jennifer Rankin
in Strasbourg
Canada has been invited to become the first “associate member” of the EU by the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen.
In an unprecedented offer, von der Leyen said on Wednesday that the EU and Canada “see the world with the same eyes” through shared democratic values and common approaches to many big issues, from AI to climate breakdown, the Ukraine war and geopolitics.
Speaking in the presence of the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, at the European parliament in Strasbourg, she said:
“We want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible. We must urgently reimagine our partnerships. So, I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU.”
Carney, who is due to address the parliament on Thursday, has called for a “unique alliance” with the EU as Canada seeks to reduce its heavy dependence on US trade.
If you are looking for a summary of Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address earlier, let’s go for our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin’s take on this morning’s events.
Canada's Carney makes short trip to Liverpool ahead of European parliament speech
Looks like Canada’s Mark Carney is making a quick detour to Britain before his tomorrow’s speech at the European parliament (11:13) as he is expected in Liverpool this afternoon for talks with the UK’s prime minister, Andy Burnham.
The two leaders are also expected to attend a game of Everton football club, as they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Both leaders are Everton fans – which is quite understandable when it comes to Burnham, but in Carney’s case dates back to his time as the governor of the Bank of England.
Separately, Burnham will also host Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte in the early afternoon – I will keep an eye on any news lines coming out of that meeting.
We are getting pictures showing a brief period of unrest and clashes between protesters and police in the Hague, following the court’s ruling on Hashim Thaçi. It was also reported by local media.
Thaçi remains a revered figure for many Kosovo Albanians, while the tribunal itself is deeply unpopular in Kosovo, Reuters reported.
In Pristina, thousands of people watching the verdict on a big screen booed the verdict and chanted “Thaçi, Thaçi” as some burst into tears, Reuters reported.
Outside the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague dozens of Thaçi supporters had gathered ahead of the verdict waving KLA flags and chanting “UCK“, the Albanian acronym for the army.
Thaçi and co-defendants 'criminally responsible' for war crimes of detention, cruel treatment, torture, murder, ruling says
We are now getting a bit more on the findings against Thaçi and his three co-defendants.
Here is from the Kosovo Specialist Chambers & Specialist Prosecutor’s Office:
“The Trial Panel found that all four Accused were criminally responsible for the war crimes of arbitrary detention against 385 individuals, cruel treatment against 49 individuals, torture against 303 individuals, and murder against 96 individuals.
The Trial Panel found the accused not guilty of crimes against humanity because the Specialist Prosecutor failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population. The accused were also found not guilty in connection with a number of specific incidents of war crimes.
The judges found that during the Kosovo conflict Mr. Thaçi, Mr. Veseli, Mr. Selimi and Mr. Krasniqi contributed significantly to the common criminal purpose of targeting perceived opponents of the Kosovo Liberation Army’s political and military goals, including Kosovo Albanians associated with other political or military forces, like the LDK and FARK; individuals alleged to be associated with the FRY/Serbian authorities; and certain members of ethnic minorities, including a number of Roma and Serbs.
The targeting of such opponents took the form of killings; arrests and detention without due process; physical and psychological mistreatment; as well as other forms of abuse, intimidation and harassment.
With limited exceptions, the Trial Panel found no evidence that any of the victims had engaged in any criminal activity, taken an active part in hostilities or presented any other legitimate security concern for the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).”
And here is a bit more detail on Thaçi himself:
“In the case of Hashim Thaçi, the Trial Panel found that as a member of the General Staff of the KLA and in his capacity as the head of the Political Directorate, he was a key member in formulating and implementing the common purpose that entailed setting up detention facilities; identifying individuals perceived as opposing the KLA; arresting and detaining them; and, if necessary, killing them.
This included the targeting of alleged “collaborators”, the setting up of a structure, competent bodies and regulations to do so, and the deployment of “special warfare” against Opponents, including through the publication of communiques and political declarations and other public statements expressing tolerance and encouragement for the commission of crimes against opponents.
The Trial Panel further found that Hashim Thaçi also personally participated in crimes, including the arrest, arbitrary detention and interrogation of 13 parliamentarians and the arrest, detention, transfer and murder of Behajdin Allaqi.
He further disseminated false information about detainees and victims of the crimes committed by KLA members, gave false assurances of compliance with international humanitarian law on behalf of the KLA, and contributed to a policy of impunity in respect of perpetrators of crimes against opponents.”
Full summary of the judgment is here.
Former Kosovo president Thaçi sentenced to 25 years in prison
Former Kosovo Liberation Army commander and later Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi has been sentenced to 25 years in prison as he is held criminally responsible for war crimes during the violent break from Serbia in the 1990s by the international court in The Hague.
Thaçi had denied all charges.
I will bring you more on this shortly.
Here is the background to this story:
“As prosecutors presented their case against Thaci and fellow defendants Rexhep Selemi, Kadri Veseli and Jakup Krasniqi – all senior figures in the KLA’s leadership during the war against Serb forces from 1998 to 1999 – they described an alleged campaign of murder, torture and repression against opponents and members of ethnic minorities directed by the four men. …
The proceedings, deeply unpopular in Kosovo and neighbouring Albania, recall the period of brutal conflict between 1998 and 1999 where both Serbian and Kosovan armed organisations committed war crimes in the context of the KLA’s armed uprising and Belgrade’s military response.
His supporters gathered in Kosovo earlier today to listen to the verdict:
'Current system is reaching its end,' NR's Bardella says in response to von der Leyen
The European parliament is still discussing von der Leyen’s address.
In sharp contrast with von der Leyen’s comments, the far-right Rally president Jordan Bardella criticised her for constantly “glorifying what you have done,” while, in fact, “the [current] system is reaching an end.”
“We have the Europe of those who write the rules; the bureaucrats who write waste public money and make up taxes for tomorrow … and then there’s the Europe that has to pay, the second Europe: those who have to pay €2.5 for a litre of petrol … they have to pay for heating, they have to pay increasing bills.
Europe that continues to work harder to earn less. That essentially is the state of the Union.”
He told von der Leyen that “your Europe is not just more expensive every year,” but it also “protects us less and less,” pointing to the migration crisis in Ceuta.
“Let’s look at the world around us: the war in Ukraine, war in the Middle East, Islamist terrorism, food insecurity, energy insecurity. The US is investing, China is investing, and we continue to regulate even more.
We’re regulating things that we no longer produce. We’re taxing things that we no longer know how to make. And we’re also taxing things that we’ve banned the production of in Europe. That is the major paradox in Europe. And that’s why we need to change.”
He called that “when the money is European, the jobs need to be in Europe; when the money is French, the jobs need to be in France” and urged the commission to “get ride of red tape, these absurd and useless rules.”
I’m bringing you these quotes as Bardella’s Rally could find itself in a very strong position in France after next year’s presidential election, with Marine Le Pen leading in the polls.
Worth remembering that Mark Carney is due to address the European parliament tomorrow, so will be definitely worth tuning in to hear his take on the “associate membership” idea.
He is scheduled to speak 11:30 local time (10:30 UK) tomorrow.
Von der Leyen's offer to Canada 'cannot be overestimated in political and trade significance' - snap analysis
Lisa O’Carroll
Senior correspondent
Ursula von der Leyen’s dramatic offer to open the gate to Canada to become the EU’s first ever associate member (9:54) cannot be overestimated in political and trade significance.
It, at once, aligns what Canadian prime minister Mark Carney called the “middle powers” in his Davos speech in January but creates an opening for a speedy enhanced trade deal particularly on critical raw materials and rare earths.
It also sets Canada apart from the UK which could, once upon a time, have some sort of associate membership with the EU were it not for the drive for a clean break Brexit.
Two points of realpolitik make it possible that the long winding road that typifies third country’s relationships with the EU could turn into a high speed motorway.
Canada has something the EU desperately needs: rich supplies of CRM and rare earths in a bid to diversify from China which has a stranglehold on both.
And Europe has something Canada urgently wants: new market for products it can no longer sell into the US in the face of a trade war with Donald Trump.
Looking at the bigger picture a new enhanced trade deal between the EU and Canada could leave the UK somewhat scrambling in a two speed race.
Keir Starmer talked about forging a CRM and rare earths deal with Canada but it never materialised.
If political energy in Brussels is now focused on Canada that could be bad news for Andy Burnham.
