Former Kosovo Separatist Commander Appears In Court

2020-10-30T09:12:53Z

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - A former commander of separatist fighters in Kosovo´s 1998-1999 war appeared at a special court in the Netherlands on Monday to face charges that he was involved in the torture of detainees and the murder of one prisoner held at a compound in Kosovo during the conflict. Salih Mustafa was arrested Thursday and transferred to the Netherlands to stand trial. He is the first suspect to appear in court at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. He sat in the courtroom wearing a suit and tie and a face mask, which he removed as he stood and confirmed his name and other personal details, identifying himself as an economist and adviser to the Kosovo defense ministry. He listened in silence as a court officer read out the four charges against him, and Presiding Judge Nicolas Guillou read him his rights. Mustafa didn't enter pleas to the charges during the 35-minute hearing. He has 30 days to enter pleas. The Kosovo Liberation Army was made up of ethnic Albanian rebels who fought for Kosovo´s independence from Serbia. Mustafa oversaw fighters in the Llapi area, 35 kilometers (20 miles) north of the capital, [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-trung-quoc-nam-ninh-truong-gia-gioi-phuong-hoang-co-tran-6-ngay.html tour phượng hoàng cổ trấn] Pristina. Mustafa is charged with the war crimes of arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, the torture of at least six people and the murder of one person at a detention compound in Zllash, Kosovo, in April 1999. The victims were accused by KLA fighters of collaborating with Serbs or not supporting the KLA, according to the indictment. In one incident alleged in the indictment, Mustafa interrogated a detainee "about his knowledge of the identities of thieves and spies, and beat him with a baseball bat all over his body, causing him severe mental harm and severe physical injuries." He is charged in the [http://www.caringbridge.org/search?q=indictment indictment] under different modes of criminal liability, including command responsibility and as a member of a joint criminal enterprise. The court and an associated Special Prosecutor´s Office were established five years ago following a 2011 report by the Council of Europe, a human rights body, that included allegations that KLA fighters trafficked human organs taken from prisoners and killed Serbs and fellow ethnic Albanians. The court is mandated to investigate and prosecute allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Kosovo, or linked to the Kosovo conflict, from 1998-2000. Two leaders of the Kosovar war veterans´ association, Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj, were arrested last week and transferred to The Hague accused of "offences against the administration of justice, namely intimidation of witnesses, retaliation and violation of secrecy of proceedings," the court said. They are likely to make their first appearances before the court in coming days. Prosecutors in The Hague also have isssued an indictment against Kosovar President Hashim Thaci, former parliamentary speaker Kadri Veseli, and others for crimes that include murder, enforced disappearances, [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-trung-quoc-nam-ninh-truong-gia-gioi-phuong-hoang-co-tran-6-ngay.html kynghidongduong.vn] persecution and torture. A pre-trial judge has yet to confirm those indictments. Both men have denied committing any war crimes. The 1998-1999 war for Kosovo´s independence from Serbia left more than 10,000 people dead - most of them ethnic Albanians from Kosovo. More than 1,600 people remain unaccounted for. The fighting ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbian troops. Kosovo, which is dominated by ethnic Albanians, declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move recognized by many Western nations but not Serbia or its allies Russia and China.

Djokovic Out To Make Amends In Paris For U.S. Open Fiasco

2020-10-29T03:26:04Z

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By Zoran Milosavljevic BELGRADE, Sept 24 (Reuters) - If recent form is anything to go by, world number one Novak Djokovic is perfectly poised to launch a challenge for [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-trung-quoc-nam-ninh-truong-gia-gioi-phuong-hoang-co-tran-6-ngay.html tour phượng hoàng cổ trấn] his second French Open title and [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-trung-quoc-nam-ninh-truong-gia-gioi-phuong-hoang-co-tran-6-ngay.html kynghidongduong.vn] an 18th major honour after one of the lowest ebbs of his trophy-laden career. [http://www.melodyhome.com/category-0/?u=0&q=Djokovic Djokovic] was disqualified from the U.S. Open earlier this month after hitting a line judge in the neck with a petulant swipe of the ball but he bounced back in style by winning his fifth Italian Open title on Monday. The Serb's 7-5 6-3 defeat of Argentine Diego Schwartzman brought him a record 36th ATP Masters crown, helping put behind an acrimonious exit at Flushing Meadows during a fourth-round clash with Spaniard Pablo Carrenno Busta. Djokovic, who stretched his hot streak to 31 wins in 2020, acknowledged the success in Rome had helped him overcome the disappointment of being defaulted in New York in an incident that put him in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. "I did experience mentally some ups and downs in the first four-five days after that happened," he said. "Obviously having a tournament a week after helped a lot because I really wanted to get on the court and get whatever trace of that out of the way. "It was a great week, a very challenging week," Djokovic said after grinding down Schwartzman at the Foro Italico, having fought back from dropping the opening three games in front of a smattering of fans. "I found my best tennis when I needed it most. Now we turn to Paris and I couldn´t ask for a better tournament here in Rome." There is little doubt that Djokovic will face a strong challenge at the French Open from the tournament's record 12-times winner Rafa Nadal and Austrian Dominic Thiem, who won his maiden grand slam title in New York. Nadal was stunned by Schwartman in the Italian Open quarter-finals but Djokovic stressed the Spaniard was still the obvious favourite to triumph in Paris, adding that he'd have to raise his game in order to be a contender. "He's the player who has the highest chance of being in the final... if it's Roland Garros it's Rafa you bet on," said Djokovic. "I don't think I played my best tennis (in Rome) to be honest, I don't want to sound arrogant here. I am very satisfied and pleased to win a title. I know I still have a couple of gears. "Hopefully I'll be able to raise that level for the French Open because that's going to be necessary if I want to go deep in the tournament." In addition to the Italian Open, Djokovic also won the Australian Open, the Dubai Championship and the Western & Southern Open this season, having also lifted the inaugural ATP Cup with Serbia. He will now need to hit top gear at Roland Garros if he is to erase the U.S. Open debacle, where he was the hot favourite after Nadal had pulled out due to COVID-19 concerns while Roger Federer is out for the season after knee surgery. (Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

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Former Kosovo Separatist Commander Appears In Court

Djokovic Out To Make Amends In Paris For U.S. Open Fiasco