Kosovo parliament approves special war crimes court

The Parliament in Kosovo (Assembly) amended its Constitution on 4 August 2015 to allow the creation of a special court to investigate alleged war crimes committed by ethnic Albanian fighters during the war in the 1990s.

The disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) has been accused of various war crimes, including organ-harvesting from murdered Serb captives. Former KLA rebels who have become politicians were among those in parliament who opposed the vote. Ex-KLA fighters are held in high regard by many in Kosovo's majority Albanian population.

The United States and the European Union have pressed Kosovo to address the accusations.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: The bullies who run Kosovo http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-bullies-who-run-kosovo/

ESO: Background information: Kosovo politics holding back EU trials on organ trafficking http://www.europeansources.info/record/kosovo-politics-holding-back-eu-trials-on-organ-trafficking/

Euronews, 04.08.15: Kosovo votes in favour war crimes court http://www.euronews.com/2015/08/04/kosovo-votes-in-favour-war-crimes-court/

Deutsche Welle, 03.08.15: Kosovo lawmakers vote to set up war crimes court http://dw.com/p/1G9Dr

B92, 03.08.15: 'Decision on KLA crimes court made under intl. pressure' http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2015&mm=08&dd=03&nav_id=94973

EurActiv, 04.08.15: Kosovo votes for new war crimes court http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/kosovo-votes-new-war-crimes-court-316784

EUObserver, 04.08.15: Kosovo approves war crimes court following EU, US pressure https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/129831

Politico, 04.08.15: Kosovo agrees to war crimes tribunal http://www.politico.eu/article/kosovo-agrees-to-war-crimes-tribunal-serbia/

Tages-Anzeiger, 04.08.15: West shunned confrontation with Kosovo leaders (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/medienindex/media_articles/archiv_article/ARTICLE167535-West-shunned-confrontation-with-Kosovo-leaders

EU: EEAS: Press Release, 03.08.15: Statement by High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini after adoption by the Kosovo Assembly of the Law on Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor's Office http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/150803_01_en.htm

http://eeas.europa.eu/kosovo/index_en.htm http://eeas.europa.eu/kosovo/index_en.htm

UK: FCO: Press Release, 03.08.15: Foreign Office welcomes Kosovo Assembly’s efforts to deal with the past https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-office-welcomes-kosovo-assemblys-efforts-to-deal-with-the-past

EULEX: Press Release, 07.07.15: EULEX Statement Regarding the Establishment of Specialist Chambers http://www.eulex-kosovo.eu/?page=2,10,251

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