Testimony in The Hague/Rubin: Thaçi had a political role, but no competences. He said no to the signing in Rambouillet
Former US Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin has given his testimony at the trial of 4 former KLA leaders being held in The Hague.
In 1999, he was engaged as a special negotiator to ensure the demobilization of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
In The Hague, Rubin testified about the demilitarization of the KLA and Hashim Thaçi's role during the Rambouillet Conference, stating that he only had a political role and could not make decisions within the structure because he had no competence.
Rubin recounted details of his role during the KLA demilitarization process in Kosovo.
He said his duty was to reflect the views of all NATO allies and countries participating in KFOR, while the KLA structure was disorganized and difficult to understand, according to him.
Rubin said that Thaçi was young and did not have the authority to make decisions on the military aspects of the KLA.
He represented the views of other commanders, while they informed him of their positions, Rubin explained.
"Hshimi didn't tell the commanders what to do, but the commanders told him . "
Rubin described tensions within the KLA, where some commanders sought to maintain the maximum level of military force, while internationals aimed for the minimum, to facilitate demilitarization.
"I interpreted this as the role of a Foreign Minister, or a political role ," Rubin said.
In late June 1999, Rubin said he was in Kosovo to support the demilitarization process of the Kosovo Liberation Army, as the war was drawing to a close.
“I stayed in Skopje and every morning I traveled to the mountains to meet Thaçi and the commanders,” Rubin said.
Rubin said that Thaçi did not have full authority to dictate rules and conditions within the KLA, being forced to consult with other people to approve decisions.
He said that he considered some of these people "extremists", who, according to him, required immediate action, while Thaçi had a more pragmatic approach.
"We convinced the Kosovo Albanian delegation that they would have independence, but first save the people," said Rubin.
The former senior American official said that when the majority decided to embrace the support of NATO and the West, extremist groups lost their influence.
Rubin said that during the Rambouillet Conference, Thaçi expressed his concerns that he did not have full authority to sign the agreement on behalf of the KLA. Rubin said that Secretary Albright had told Thaçi that the leadership had to make difficult decisions and that without their acceptance there would be no support from the West.
“ Thaci said he was sorry, but his answer was no,” Rubin added, explaining that the former president was under pressure from KLA commanders and European financiers.
Rubin mentioned that the goal of the negotiations was to find a compromise that could continue to the next phase, without making specific statements about Kosovo's independence.
But for Thaçi, Rubin said, signing any declaration that did not specify independence would be considered treason.
"We still didn't have a clear position on independence. We needed a compromise to move to the next phase," Rubin said.
"Thaci had a political role, but not the competences. He was told that if he did not mention independence, he would be a traitor," he added./ REL
