Kosovo Assembly approves resolution on Special Court without LDK
Kosovo lawmakers, in the first session of the 10th legislature of the Assembly, have adopted a resolution that requires commitment and respect for the law and international law by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office.
The resolution was adopted with 90 votes in favor, one against and no abstentions.
The Democratic League of Kosovo did not participate in the vote, as it had previously proposed an additional point to be included in the resolution, but their request was not accepted, respecting the previously agreed version of the document.
In presenting the content, Democratic Party of Kosovo MP Përparim Gruda said that the resolution was drafted by independent experts.
The Serb List MPs, on the other hand, left the hall the moment the discussion on the resolution in question began in the Assembly.
This is a draft resolution with 8 points addressed to the Special Court:
REQUESTS the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office, in the exercise of their functions, to ensure the strict implementation of constitutional and international standards relating to a fair and impartial trial, while also respecting the principles of transparency, accountability and the cultivation of public confidence in justice.
REQUESTS the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office, in the exercise of their functions, to ensure the strict implementation of constitutional and international standards relating to the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the accused, including the obligations arising from the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights.
REQUESTS the Ombudsperson of the Specialist Chambers, whose exclusive responsibility for the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office derives from the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, to act with complete independence and impartiality in the exercise of this function, in accordance with constitutional obligations and international standard acts relating to this function.
ENCOURAGES all democratic states, including those funding and supporting the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office, to join in our call for full respect for international standards for a fair and impartial trial – standards that stem from the constitutional tradition of all democratic states and the acts and recommendations adopted by international mechanisms, including, but not limited to, the United Nations, the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
ENCOURAGES monitoring mechanisms for respect for fundamental rights and freedoms within international organizations, as well as international and local non-governmental organizations, to increase monitoring of the compliance of the functioning of the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office with international standards for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms in judicial proceedings and to report on identified violations.
CONFIRMS the commitment and dedication to ensuring all mechanisms, including financial ones, in support of the rights of defense of leaders and fighters of the Kosovo Liberation Army before the Specialist Prosecutor's Office and the Specialist Chambers.
CONFIRMS the full commitment and dedication to undertaking all actions to affirm the values ??of the war of the Kosovo Liberation Army and the sanctity of the history on which the Republic of Kosovo was built.