The testimony of Paul Williams, who served as legal adviser to Kosovo’s delegation during the Rambouillet negotiations in 1999, has concluded. The American jurist began his testimony yesterday in defense of former president Hashim Thaçi, speaking about the Rambouillet agreement process. He stated that Thaçi went into the field to collect the signatures of zone commanders and that “it became as clear as daylight that the zone commanders had to be part of the process.”

At the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, Paul Williams today answered questions from the panel of judges and later additional questions from the defense lawyers.

The second defense witness said he did not know the legendary commander Adem Jashari.

Misetić: Do you have any knowledge of who Adem Jashari was?
Williams: “Not now that you ask me at this moment,” he replied.

The American jurist said that the massacre in the village of Račak was a grave violation of international humanitarian law, when asked by Jakup Krasniqi’s lawyer, Aiden Ellis.

Ellis: During the time you observed what was happening in Kosovo, I assume you heard about the Račak massacre in mid-January 1999?
Williams: Yes.
Ellis: Is it true that it was a very serious violation of international humanitarian law because many civilians were killed?
Williams: Yes, he replied.

During questions from Judge Genel Metro, the defense witness said he had always thought that a meeting between Hashim Thaçi and Adem Demaçi had taken place in Slovenia, but added, “I have no facts to support this.”

“I can tell you with certainty that [Hashim Thaçi] went into the field to collect the signatures of the zone commanders. However, in parallel with this there was a certain cost… It became as clear as daylight that the zone commanders had to be part of the process. Inside the castle it was impossible to determine the future status of Kosovo. What I was told was, ‘Paul, we trust you, now take this piece of paper, go deliver this message, go and be the lawyer or adviser of the KLA,’” he added.

On the second day of his testimony, Williams said that the prime minister of the provisional government in exile, Bujar Bukoshi, had hesitated to provide financial aid to the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).

Metro: Can you tell us why?
Williams: The funds collected from the diaspora were conditional; they had been gathered to finance the parallel education system functioning in Kosovo and the parallel healthcare system. So, let me give a broader answer. We had spoken briefly about this—when it comes to money and weapons I cannot speak, I can only speak about human rights. However, he told me he had two problems: we collected this money from the diaspora for healthcare and education and that’s where we want to spend it, and I believe they were also used for some of the refugees; and secondly, but don’t take this as definitive, secondly, if they wanted money for weapons there were other ways to do this, and eventually in fact they did find a solution,” Williams declared.

Later, several public statements about misuse of funds were presented to him, where it was said that “the KLA General Staff has no knowledge of funds collected in the name of the war,” and that “the KLA General Staff calls on compatriots not to fall into the traps constructed by the ‘institutionalists.’”

Paul Williams, whose testimony supports former president Hashim Thaçi, said: “To my knowledge, I cannot say whether there is truth to these accusations, to these claims.”

“No, I am not aware that Bukoshi’s government misused diaspora funds, or used them for personal benefit,” he stated.

The judges’ questions continued with Jakup Krasniqi’s statements regarding these funds collected from the diaspora, where allegations of misuse had been raised.

Thaçi’s lawyer, Luka Misetić, said there were no more witnesses for today and that next week’s hearings would begin on Monday.

Paul Williams is the second defense witness for Thaçi, with the defense planning to present around 11 witnesses in court.

Yesterday concluded the testimony of James Rubin, which began on September 15. During the Kosovo war, Rubin served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State.

The Office of the Specialist Prosecutor has charged Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi with alleged war crimes. The SPO has said they were part of a “joint criminal enterprise.”

On the other hand, Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi, and Selimi have pleaded not guilty to all counts of the indictment.

The presentation of the defense’s evidence comes four months after the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office concluded its witnesses and closed its case. The prosecution had brought 125 witnesses into the courtroom and relied on more than 130 written testimonies.

The defense of the four former KLA leaders denies the charges and has argued that the KLA did not have an organized command structure.

The indictment against the former KLA leaders was made public in the autumn of 2020. Since then, they have remained in pre-trial detention at the Hague’s Scheveningen facility. Their trial began in April 2023.

The Specialist Chamber judges expect the defense of the former KLA leaders to submit their final briefs by December 22 of this year.