Calls for peace in Kosovo ahead of Thaci's verdict

Democratic Party of Kosovo (DPK) MP Perparim Gruda today called on public actors to remain calm and not to create panic among citizens ahead of the first-instance verdict of the Kosovo Specialized Chambers in the trial against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselji, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi.

The verdict in The Hague has been announced for tomorrow, Wednesday, at 10 am.

Gruda told reporters that public announcements of alleged riots in the event of a guilty verdict had caused public unrest in recent days.

At times like these, he pointed out, "all public actors have a responsibility to show moderation and caution."

"Kosovo has shown that it knows how to face big moments with dignity," said Gruda.

He said that the PDK expects that Thaci, Veselji, Krasniqi and Selimi will be acquitted of all charges tomorrow, because, as he assessed, "Kosovo's defensive and liberation war cannot be equated with the state policy of aggression, repression and ethnic cleansing of the Serbian regime."

"Today we say this with hope and faith: Tomorrow we want to celebrate. We want to see Thaci, Veselji, Krasniqi and Selimi free and on their way back to Kosovo," Gruda said.

Until then, as the PDK MP stated, "our responsibility is clear."

He also said: "We will defend the truth about the KLA war. We will defend the sacrifice of the people of Kosovo. We will defend the legitimacy of our state."

Gruda announced that, in the event that a different decision is made, it will be decisively challenged, with arguments and all available legal and democratic means.

"That is why we demand from international partners the same thing we have always demanded: evidence-based justice, equal standards and respect for the historical truth of Kosovo," Gruda said.

The Islamic Community of Kosovo (ICK) today decided to oblige all its structures and institutions to erect and display the KLA flag.

According to the decision, the KLA flag will also be placed on the minarets of mosques in Kosovo, in addition to the usual and designated places where flags are placed.

According to the decision, the IKK was requested to implement this decision in all structures and institutions operating within the Islamic Community of Kosovo.