President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, visits a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Recak massacre, in Kosovo, in December last year. EPA
President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, visits a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Recak massacre, in Kosovo, in December last year. EPA
President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, visits a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Recak massacre, in Kosovo, in December last year. EPA
President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, visits a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Recak massacre, in Kosovo, in December last year. EPA

War crimes charges force Trump to wait for Balkans talks


Thomas Harding
  • English
  • Arabic

Donald Trump’s attempt to secure a major diplomatic victory have been derailed after a politician travelling to a White House summit was charged with war crimes.

The US president had hoped to bring the long feud between Serbia and Kosovo to an end by hosting a peace summit between the countries’ respective presidents this weekend.

But as he was about to head to Washington Kosovo’s President, Hashim Thaci, was accused of being “criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders” by a special international prosecutor in The Hague and cancelled the trip.

The politician is also accused of torture and enforced disappearances including those of political opponents. Mr Thaci has denied any wrongdoing and did not immediately comment on the indictment. His spokesman confirmed that he was heading to Washington at the time it was made public.

The meeting on Saturday had been organised by Richard Grenell, the US ambassador to Germany who is also Mr Trump’s Balkan peace envoy.

US special envoy Richard Grenell is welcomed by Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in Pristina, Kosovo, in October last year. Reuters
US special envoy Richard Grenell is welcomed by Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in Pristina, Kosovo, in October last year. Reuters

The allegations appear to be specifically timed to derail Mr Trump’s efforts at finding a solution a long-running issue in the Balkans. Kosovo had previously been part of Serbia but in 2008 Mr Thaci declared it independent and became its first prime minister.

A peace deal could have given Mr Thaci greater political prominence and made it more difficult to prosecute him.

The prosecutor’s office said it was taking the unusual step of making the charges public before the White House meeting because of Mr Thaci’s repeated efforts to “obstruct and undermine” the court.

However, the indictment does cause a problem for an agreement being signed with Serbia as Mr Thaci was understood to be amenable to a deal to potentially avoid being summoned by the court.

The European Union has also been pushing for peace talks but these are now likely to be postponed indefinitely.

Serbia has never recognised Kosovo’s status as a country after it broke away from Belgrade following a murderous secession conflict in 1999. Serbia’s refusal has hampered its efforts to join the EU and Kosovo is not recognised by major international bodies, including the United Nations.

Hashim Thaci, then a commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, waves to a cheering crowd in the Stenkovec refugee camp in June, 1999. EPA
Hashim Thaci, then a commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, waves to a cheering crowd in the Stenkovec refugee camp in June, 1999. EPA

There have also been allegations that Mr Thaci was the leader of a criminal gang linked to the Kosovo Liberation Army, which was involved in drug, gun and human organ trafficking.

Today's accusations will be assessed by a judge from Kosovo Specialist Chambers, which has jurisdiction over war crimes, who will decide if the charges can be proved beyond reasonable doubt before it goes to trial.

The Kosovo independence war cost more than 10,000 lives and only ended after a Nato air campaign. Mr Thaci has held senior political positions in Kosovo since the war.

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hall of shame

SUNDERLAND 2002-03

No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.

SUNDERLAND 2005-06

Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.

HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19

Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.

ASTON VILLA 2015-16

Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.

FULHAM 2018-19

Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.

LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.

BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66

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Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants