The United States of America has authorized General Wesley Clark to testify in the trial of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selim, and Jakup Krasniqi.
Thaçi's defense has announced that Clark has received authorization to testify in his defense and is expected to be the defense's final witness.
In the submission of Thaçi's lawyer, Luka Misetic, it is stated that Clark cannot travel to The Hague before November 17, 2025 and therefore his testimony is expected to begin on November 18 or 19.
The defense has also requested that the trial panel set a date of November 21 for an additional hearing in case it is necessary to finalize Clark's testimony.
The defense also requested that the list of submitted evidence be amended, adding Clark's statement to it.
In its submission, the defense emphasizes that Clark will testify about NATO's efforts to implement the October 1998 agreement between Richard Holbrooke and Slobodan Milosevic.
In addition, he will talk about the violence following the return of Kosovar refugees and will explain its causes during the summer of 1999.
The document states that Clark will also describe his interactions with the KLA, the Kosovar delegation in Rambouillet and in particular with Hashim Thaçi, who he stated "had no control over the KLA".
According to the submission, Clark will provide his observations and impressions on the KLA's lack of structure and organization, as well as the lack of any functional command or control.
He also emphasizes that Thaçi was a political figure with no military experience and that it would be unfair to attribute to him the mismanagement of the actions of others.
Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi, and Selimi have been held in custody in The Hague since November 2020. They are facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.