THE HAGUE, January 15 /TASS/. A special court to be established in The Hague will look into crimes committed by the Kosovo Albanians during the 1999-2000 Kosovo war, the Dutch Foreign Ministry reported on Friday.
"The court will deal with crimes, which the Kosovo Liberation Army [that fought for Kosovo’s independence from Serbia] committed against ethnic minorities and political opponents during the 1999-2000 war in Kosovo," the Dutch ministry clarified.
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The court will work outside Kosovo because the issues it’s going to consider are extremely sensitive. "Part of the Kosovo society may regard potential suspects to be fighters for freedom. That is why witnesses can feel unsafe," the Dutch Foreign Ministry explained.
The court, however, will function according to Kosovo laws. It’s not going to be an international tribunal but a national court of Kosovo, which will execute justice outside the republic.
International judges will study the cases. The court will start functioning this year but the exact date will be set later. It will sit in the former Europol building after an enlargement with a courtroom has been attached to it. Prior to that, court hearings will take place in other buildings and premises in The Hague.
"It is important that justice should be done," Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said.