Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi has concluded his speech before the court, reiterating his claim of innocence regarding the charges against him.
At the beginning of his presentation, Thaçi congratulated Albanians on the anniversary of the declaration of Kosovo's Independence, reports Telegrafi.
"For almost three years in this hall you have heard the prosecution's accusations. You have also heard the truth. There is only one truth. I am completely innocent," he declared.
Thaçi spoke about the period leading up to the war in Kosovo, emphasizing that at the time of the 1998 massacres he was a student in Switzerland.
"At the time of the massacres in early 1998, I was a student in Zurich. I wasn't making plans to take control of Kosovo, I was making plans for my college exams. The only person making morbid plans was Slobodan Milosevic," he said.
He added that the decision to return to Kosovo came as a reaction to violence against the civilian population.
"Seeing the massacres in my country, I could not remain indifferent, I decided to return to Kosovo. I am proud of this and I never regret it. It is an insult to the memory of the heroes and thousands of victims, as well as to the efforts of NATO with whom we cooperated closely," Thaçi declared.
He also mentioned the conviction in absentia by the regime of Slobodan Milosevic, saying that "his regime had convicted me in absentia for alleged illegal actions, just as it had convicted President Clinton in absentia."
Finally, the former president reiterated that the decision to return to Kosovo in 1998 was motivated by responsibility towards his people.
"I decided to return to Kosovo because I could not stand by while my people faced violence. I am proud of this and I never regret it," Thaçi concluded. /Telegrafi/
