Former Kosovo PM Lawyers Show Proof of Invitation to Bulgaria

Bulgarian court police escort Kosovo's former prime minister Agim Ceku (right) into the Kyustendil courtroom. Photo by BGNES

The former Kosovo PM, Agim Ceku, told the court in the western city of Kyustendil that he came to Bulgaria to work for better relations between the two countries.

Bulgarian police arrested Tuesday evening the former Kosovo Prime Minister on an international warrant issued by Serbia for alleged war crimes.

Serbia accuses Ceku of committing war crimes in 1998-99.

Ceku's defense council told the Kyustendil magistrates that there was not enough proof to show the Serbian Court in Nis, that sentenced Ceku to 20 years behind bars, was competent to deal with the case.

The attorneys also presented as evidence several documents - a letter from Bulgaria's former Foreign Minister and Member of the Parliament, Solomon Passy, who as Chair of the Parliamentary Foreign Policy Commission, invites Ceku to visit Bulgaria, documents signed by Kosovo current PM Hakim Taci, showing Ceku is a member of the Kosovo diplomatic team, a UN letter stating that Ceku's case is not within the competency of the Nis Court.

"I have been a factor in many political events, so my possible extradition will worsen a great deal the complicated ethnic relations in Kosovo and eventually complicate the relations between our two countries," Ceku told the magistrates, adding he was not guilty of anything and never in his life committed a crime.

The Regional Court in Kyustendil is meeting behind closed doors Thursday evening to rule on Ceku's detention or release.

 

 

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