Defense of Thaçi-Gec: Try to remove politics from the answers you give

Former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Fadil Geci - witness of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office, is facing questions from the defense of Hashim Thaçi, on the second day of his testimony in The Hague.

During the interview, Thaçi's lawyer, Luka Mishetiq, reminded Geci that a week ago in the preparatory conference with the prosecutor, he had said that he "does not consider" that he was part of the KLA.

According to defense counsel Mishetiq, the witness confirmed this on the first day of his testimony, on Monday.

But today in court, according to the lawyer, Geci is saying the opposite.

Mishetiq: Yesterday, you said under oath that you were not in the KLA

"Did you tell the prosecutor this a week ago that you did not consider yourself to have been part of the KLA, did you tell this a week ago or not, yes or no, a witness?

Geci: There were two organizations, one was for the state, which I am the KLA, and one for power, and one for the one that you defend. This was the truth.

Mishetiq: You confirmed under oath yesterday that what is reflected in the preparatory note is true and correct, while now you are saying that you have never said that you considered yourself not to be part of the KLA. This is what you are saying, witness, did you say it or not?

Geci: KLA is sacred to Albanianism, part of what I have contributed the most to is me, with my family and the most honest Albanians everywhere.

Mishetiq: Even though you said under oath yesterday that this is true, it turns out that this has not been true as long as you are saying something else today", insisted Mishetiq.

The chairman of the court intervened in this, who asked the witness to answer with "yes or no".

Further, the witness Geci said that in that period he only reported to the then Minister of Defense, Ahmet Krasniqi, and according to him, he was the main command.

However, lawyer Mishetiq insisted on the questions whether he was also under the command of Bislim Zyrap, Rexhep Selim, Hashim Thaçin and Jakup Krasniqi.

Mishetiq: Try to remove politics from the answers you give

Mishetiq: What is enough, I decided, I am asking you, you were not under the command of these persons, is this witness correct?

Geci: I was not in their command, never.

Mishetiq: The witness is asking you simple questions, so you try to remove politics from the answers you give", it was said in today's session.

Before being interviewed by Thaçi's defense, the witness answered the questions of the prosecutor, James Pace.

Geci, in a public session and without protective measures, spoke about what is known as the 59th communiqué.

Geci: I don't believe that the one who wrote Communique 59 is Albanian at heart

"That Albanian who knew us well, who we are, wrote Communique 59 may be a Turk of another nationality, but not an Albanian. He can say 'I am Albanian', but inside I don't believe that he is Albanian in heart and blood. I have said this and it is true", he declared.

During the prosecutor's questions, Geci also talked about the communication he had with Ramë Buja and the same one, according to him, told him "that he ate a bullet because he protected the Geci brothers".

Pace: Did Ramë Buja explain to you or tell you with whom he discussed communique 59?

Geci: Yes, he told me that 'we talked at headquarters'. He knows them, but says 'I also had consequences because I spoke about you'. Even he tells me 'that I ate a bullet because I defended you, and you were right, and you did us a favor because you were right, I told you not to, they didn't listen to me, it's a shame'. Let them carry the responsibilities. If Ramë Buje keeps these words, he told me there, directly to me. He also knows and we know something, and his friends know very well that they had problems there because they talked about the Geci brothers", declared Geci.

Fadil Geci started his testimony on Monday before the Specialized Chambers in The Hague, in the case against Thaçi and others.

Geci has been summoned by the prosecution to testify regarding the authorship of what is known as the 59th communique, as well as the threats that he claims Hashim Thaçi and Rexhep Selimi have made to Tahir Zemaj.

The trial against the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army began on April 3, 2023.

Former KLA leaders are on trial for alleged war crimes and have been held in the Hague detention center since November 2020. /Kp/Telegraph/