PRISHTINA, Sept. 16 /ATA/ – The United States said on Wednesday it respected the Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ judgement against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, and called on all parties to do so.
The U.S. State Department told RFE/RL it respected the judgement and urged all parties to do so, too.
Washington also called for restraint and urged all sides to avoid inflammatory rhetoric following the verdict.
“We call on all parties to respect the court’s ruling, avoid inflammatory rhetoric and continue working towards a peaceful and democratic future,” the State Department spokesperson said.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague found the four former KLA leaders guilty of four counts of war crimes, while acquitting them of crimes against humanity.
Thaçi and Krasniqi were each sentenced to 25 years in prison, while Veseli received an 18-year sentence and Selimi 13 years.
Defence lawyers have said they will appeal the verdict.
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