MARINKOVIĆ: THERE WILL BE NO JUSTICE FOR SERBS IN THE HAGUE, IT HAS BEEN A FARCE FROM THE START

BELGRADE, September 17 /SRNA/ - The Special Court in The Hague for crimes committed by the terrorist KLA will not bring justice to Serbs, as it was established to prosecute only violence against Albanians, said to SRNA Silvana Marinković, coordinator of the Association of Kidnapped and Missing Persons in Gračanica.

Marinković stressed that families are even more convinced of this after the testimony of witness for the accused, James Rubin, who portrayed Hashim Thaçi - the first defendant - as someone "who had no real authority."

"Thaçi was the supreme commander of everything. He can by no means be innocent. This has been, and remains, a farce," Marinković said.

She emphasized that it is known that none of the main defendants will be convicted, and if convictions do occur, they will be against lower-ranking individuals, and only for crimes committed against their fellow Albanians who were loyal to the state of Serbia.

She pointed out that the court was formed for that purpose, noting that indictments concern Albanians who were victims of the terrorist KLA, not Serbs.

"Witnesses have been mostly Albanians," said Marinković, whose husband Goran was kidnapped on June 19, 1999, and whose fate remains unknown.

She recalled that her husband was kidnapped in Slivovo near Gračanica, that the perpetrators are known, but his fate is not.

Marinković noted that there are 657 missing Serbs on record and that hopes they are alive are virtually gone, while the hope of recovering their remains is also fading.

She pointed out that mass abductions and killings of Serbs, as well as the destruction of monuments and Serbian churches, began with the arrival of KFOR in 1999, and that EULEX handed over confidential information provided by Serbian families - in the hope that crimes would be investigated - to the so-called Kosovo police.

"In that way, as many times before, they betrayed our trust. Albanians have strong protection from the international community, so we cannot expect justice - only divine justice," Marinković said.

She added that international representatives have since transferred all competences to Priština, leaving Serbs to fend for themselves.

Marinković emphasized that life is becoming harder each day, especially after the shutdown of Serbian republican institutions, forcing Serbs to travel to central Serbia for salaries, pensions, and medicines - waiting long hours at the administrative crossing and paying fees.

Former US Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin, invited by Thaçi's defense team in The Hague, testified that Thaçi "primarily had a political role and no authority over military decisions within the KLA."

He also stated that he had no information linking Thaçi or another accused, Jakup Krasniqi, to allegations of killings or executions.