Kurti: It is necessary for investigations and trials for crimes committed during the war to gain momentum

Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that investigations and trials concerning crimes committed during the war in Kosovo must gain greater momentum and pace. During a government meeting, he referred to the arrest of five former members of Serbia's Interior Ministry on June 14, who are suspected of involvement in the Racak case, praising the work of the institutions conducting the investigation.

According to Kurti, the arrests were carried out following a six-month investigation, while the fact that there had been insufficient efforts for years to resolve the case remains a cause for concern, Koha reported.

"While on the one hand we congratulate the institutions on arresting the suspects after what has been described as a six-month investigation, we cannot ignore the fact that until 2020 no one was dealing with this case. Accordingly, among the thousands of cases inherited from EULEX, not a single one concerned the Racak massacre. On the one hand, we have arrests after six months of investigation, and on the other hand, we have more than two decades of failure, or no effort at all, to prosecute those responsible, and no commitment to justice in this case," Kurti said.

According to him, the passage of time makes the process of uncovering war crimes more difficult because many witnesses are aging, while some have already passed away.

"As we approach nearly three decades since the last war, witnesses are growing older and many have died. Therefore, it is imperative that investigations and trials concerning crimes committed during the war gain momentum," Kurti stated.

He added that the government is interested in and committed to helping advance processes related to war crimes.

At the first meeting of the caretaker government held after the snap parliamentary elections on June 7, Kurti said those elections had not been necessary and that their outcome confirmed this, stressing that citizens had once again clearly expressed their will.

"We are meeting in person following the snap parliamentary elections of June 7. Allow me to congratulate the citizens on an orderly, free, and democratic electoral process. Kosovo did not need these elections, and the results confirm that, which is what we said and repeated before they were held," Kurti said.

He emphasized that once the election results are officially certified, work and discussions on forming new institutions will begin.

"The result must be accepted and respected, and the will of the people must be implemented and translated into functional, democratic institutions committed to development and prosperity, education and healthcare, security and defense, industry and production, as well as major infrastructure investments, from railways to dams and much more. Therefore, as soon as the election result is certified, we will begin work and discussions on forming new institutions, constituting the 11th Assembly, forming a new government, and electing a president," Kurti said, as reported by Ekonomia Online.