Tribunal Judges Ban Haradinaj Interview

Haradinaj, who was one of the most senior leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, before he became a prime minister, was indicted in March 2005 for the crimes allegedly committed by his troops against Serb civilians in 1998, in one of the KLA operational zones in the western part of Kosovo bordering Albania and Montenegro.



He surrendered to the tribunal shortly after his indictment was confirmed and resigned as Kosovo prime minister.



In March 2006, he was granted the right to make public appearances with UNMIK’s permission, where the mission sees it as “important for a positive development of the political and security situation in Kosovo”, a move unprecedented in the tribunal’s history.



On October 17, UNMIK had authorised Haradinaj to give a televised interview to be broadcast in Kosovo a day later.



However, the trial chamber stressed that the responsibility to ensure those activities do not “endanger Haradinaj’s appearance for trial, or in any way compromise the judicial authority of the tribunal”, rests with the judges.



As such, they decided to suspend UNMIK’s decision until further notice, and asked UNMIK to file a written explanation as to why it granted permission for Haradinaj to participate in the interview.



The judges also asked the prosecution, and Haradinaj himself, to file written submissions to the chamber next week, explaining their views on the matter.



Presiding Judge Carmel Agius also took the decision this week to allow defence investigators to examine 14 sets of remains of alleged victims referred to in the indictment. The decision calls on the help of UNMIK to exhume the remains.



Haradinaj has been temporarily released pending trial, which is likely to start next year.