Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met with US Congressman Mike Lawler in New York. They discussed developments in Kosovo, focusing on the Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ verdict against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders.
Lawler serves on the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and chairs its Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa.
During the meeting, Kurti described the verdict as “unjust.” He also said people should distinguish between claims raised during the proceedings and the facts the court actually established and decided.
Kurti focused in particular on claims concerning the “Yellow House” and alleged organ trafficking.
“The claim about the ‘Yellow House’ and organ trafficking, which formed much of the narrative that preceded the establishment of the Specialist Chambers, was not part of the indictment at all,” Kurti said.
Claims that KLA prisoners trafficked organs at the so-called “Yellow House” in Albania gained widespread attention after the publication of Dick Marty’s report in 2010. The report led to a special investigation and later to the establishment of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
However, the indictment against Hashim Thaçi and his co-defendants did not include organ-trafficking charges.
Kurti also stressed that the court acquitted the four former KLA leaders of all charges of crimes against humanity.
On September 16, the court found Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi guilty of several war crimes and handed down prison sentences. Thaçi and Krasniqi each received 25 years, Veseli received 18 years and Selimi received 13 years.
At the same time, the Trial Panel acquitted all four defendants of six charges of crimes against humanity.
Kurti said the Specialist Chambers’ alleged lack of transparency remains “concerning.” He said the issue has persisted “from the beginning of its work until today.” He also criticized the sentences, saying the verdict “suffers from historical and factual inaccuracies.”
“The Kosovo Liberation Army’s war was and remains just, and it cannot be tarnished in any way,” Kurti wrote.
The four former KLA leaders have denied guilt and announced that they will appeal the first-instance verdict.
Meanwhile, Kurti is in New York for the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. He arrived in the United States on September 18.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Kurti is holding bilateral meetings with world leaders during his stay. He is also promoting Kosovo’s interests through meetings with international partners.
His agenda also includes meetings with the Albanian community in the United States, diaspora organizations and potential investors.
According to Kurti, he and Lawler also discussed opportunities to increase US investment in Kosovo. They focused particularly on technology, manufacturing and energy.
Albanian MP in the Serbian Parliament Shaip Kamberi also attended the meeting. According to Kurti, they discussed the situation of Albanians in Preševo, Bujanovac and Medvegjë.
Kurti said he also discussed with Lawler the deactivation of Albanians’ registered addresses in Serbia. He claimed that the practice affects thousands of Albanians and has consequences for their voting rights and access to identity documents.
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