The defense of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selim has brought evidence and facts, concrete evidence of how the war in Kosovo was waged and what the role of each of them was. It has been emphasized that at that time there was no KLA hierarchy and the general staff acted mainly in the political aspect of recognizing the reality in Kosovo, seeking concrete support.
James Rubin, Wesley Clark, William Walker and Bernard Kouchner are the witnesses called by the Defense. Each of them held important positions during that difficult period in Kosovo.
James Rubin, former assistant secretary of the United States and top aide to Secretary Madeleine Albright.
During his testimony, Rubin made it clear that, contrary to what the special prosecution claims, Thaçi did not have effective command control over military structures. Thus, he refutes the essence of the indictment.
Rubin : I really think this was wrong, this is not justice, this is an unusual way to treat a statesman who surrendered voluntarily. Secretary Albright did not have this kind of justice in mind when she initiated the creation of the former Hague tribunal. To me, this seemed like collective guilt because Hashim Thaçi was the leader of the KLA.
He said he had no information linking Thaçi or Jakup Krasniqi to the accusations of executions. In fact, not even a prestigious agency like the American CIA, the cream of world intelligence, has such information.
"We have not found any data, any evidence, any information that would connect such allegations of executions and murders with such leaders, neither with Mr. Krasniqi nor with Mr. Thaçi. About 25 years since I left the government, I have asked everyone who might have had information regarding this allegation, and not only in 2000, but also decades later when my friends and colleagues had the opportunity to give me information that was CIA intelligence, they have never given me any data or information that would connect these allegations with any of the KLA leaders."
International law lawyer Paul Williams, who is a former legal advisor to the Kosovo delegation in Rambouillet during 1999, testified in the trial of former KLA leaders.
Williams said that the Kosovo Albanian delegation in Rambouillet was in favor of engaging with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. He claimed that Hashim Thaçi knew that this could also include potential investigations into KLA members and they agreed to that. Williams said that the Kosovo delegation wanted the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia as a justice mechanism in Kosovo. So they had nothing to hide!
These witnesses, former high-ranking Western officials, held positions during the war. They had direct contact with Thaçi and others. They did not receive information or documents from Serbia, but were in Kosovo during the period for which the KLA leaders are now in the dock.