This past Thursday, a historical verdict for Kosovo was made in The Hague where former Kosovo Prime Minister and Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander, Ramush Haradinaj, was found not guilty of all charges of war crimes.

This came as a relief to the overwhelming majority of Kosovar citizens, for whom, Haradinaj is a hero whose innocence they supported throughout his trial at The Hague Tribunal on Crimes Committed in Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Not surprisingly, Serbian media sources offered a very different opinion on the matter with daily newspapers saying such things as "Tribunal has no reason to exist" and "Haradinaj free, justice under arrest". Serbian President Boris Tadic requested an appeal of the judgment and Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica added “…The Hague has turned justice itself into a laughing stock.” These statements were made while both Tadic and Kostunica are neglecting their ICTY responsibilities in handing over the infamous war criminals, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. Haradinaj, himself being a former leader of Kosovo, had honorably surrendered himself to The Hague realizing the importance of that decision for Kosovo’s future. Likewise, instead of protesting Kosovo’s independence and Ramush Haradinaj’s innocence, Serbia should learn from Haradinaj, focus on its own legal responsibilities, recognize Kosovo’s independence and orient itself towards future EU accession.

Haradinaj’s legacy beyond that of a war hero for Kosovars will be one as a victim of Serbian claims towards the KLA being a “terrorist organization”. Mr. Haradinaj spent 3 years of his life symbolically defending the plight of the KLA with the end result being contrary to those aforementioned Serbian claims. In fact, apart from formerly convicted Haradin Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj, there are no other KLA members in the criminal court. Does this support the claim that the court has done a great injustice, or is the Kosovar government right in its statement saying “Once more, KLA's war was proven to have been a just one”? In fact, this evidence from The Hague, evidence from international observers and forensic experts of massacres against Kosovar Albanian civilians, and accounts from witnesses and victims arrive at an obvious and thoughtful decision. That is, to recognize the KLA’s struggle as an honorable defense of their people and homeland. Haradinaj is significant in this realization because of his status as a commander and his responsibility in the chain of command for the KLA.

The Serbian government and media’s deceitful attempt at denigrating the KLA’s cause has suffered a crippling blow, this one not being from NATO but by the KLA itself. Therefore Haradinaj, a figure renowned for liberating the Dukagjin region of western Kosovo, is now liberating international opinion on Kosovo’s armed forces. These forces which now exist as the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their brethren, and as a result should receive due respect and praise beyond the borders of Kosovo. This praise should include the rest of the world, which maybe was not unanimous in their positive depiction of the KLA’s resistance.

Kosovo, albeit unique, is similar to other oppressed territories in that it has experienced a history and a present where its plight is usually one fought “upstream”. Unfortunately, Serbian propaganda is a well-oiled machine, and it continues to confuse and pollute the international view of Kosovo. Propaganda and a hidden agenda by the Serbian government successfully concealed “inconvenient truths” during the war and in the influential history prior. This is a propaganda effort not so different from that one which is allegedly being used by China in its recent attempts at hiding its problems with Tibet. Nonetheless, China and Serbia are praised for their high regard for justice and rights in opposing Kosovo’s independence, a questionable opposition to say the least. This week’s important verdict for Haradinaj should therefore not be forgotten, for it is a step in the liberation of Kosovo’s history, its innocence and its legitimacy. “Kosova të mirëpret” (Kosovo welcomes you) was the message to Haradinaj, his response was that he would dedicate the rest of his life to creating a free and fair society for people of all ethnic backgrounds in Kosovo.