Clark: We gave evidence that will overturn this conviction, the US will work for the Appeal to make the right decision
tidings
Express Newspaper
17/09/2026 12:08
Retired US general Wesley Clark, who led the NATO air campaign against Serbian military targets in 1999 to end the war in Kosovo, does not understand the rationale of the Special Court’s decision in The Hague yesterday to sentence the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army to 81 years in prison.
Clark said his testimony and the testimony of others will lead to this decision being overturned on appeal.
“But I know that I and many others have given evidence that will lead to the overturning of this decision”, he said in the show “Off the Record with Andrea Danglini” on A2 CNN.
The American said that he does not know the motives and “what happened behind the doors with the judges” to bring this decision, which he calls senseless.
“Because it should be seen by the Court of Appeal itself, but I don’t know the motives and what happened especially behind the doors with the judges. It doesn’t make sense to me, but maybe it’s something they know that we don’t know,” he said.
The charges on which the former leaders of the KLA were convicted, Clark calls them ridiculous and unsupported by strong evidence.
“I find it very difficult to understand how such a court can convict such an organization with ridiculous accusations that were made and no strong evidence was found for them,” he said.
“And in my view, even though I’m not a lawyer, we hope to have a different result in the Appeal,” said Clark.
Asked if he thinks the US will unreservedly support this process if the Appeal confirms yesterday’s decision, Clark said that “the US and other countries should work on the Appeal process so that the Appeal comes out with the right decision.”
Clark said that “we could even send George Washington to such a court”.
“It makes no sense to punish these people,” he said.
Hashim Thaçi and Jakup Krasniqi were each sentenced to 25 years in prison, Kadri Veseli to 18, while Rexhep Selimi to 13 years in prison – all for war crimes.
