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Hashim Thaçi

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Hashim Thaçi
Prime Minister of Kosovo
Incumbent
Assumed office
9 January 2008
PresidentFatmir Sejdiu
Jakup Krasniqi (Acting)
Behgjet Pacolli
DeputySlobodan Petrović
Hajredin Kuçi
Ramë Manaj
Preceded byAgim Çeku
In office
2 April 1999 – 1 February 2000
PresidentIbrahim Rugova
Nexhat Daci (Acting)
Preceded byBujar Bukoshi
Succeeded byNexhat Daci (Acting)
Personal details
Born (1968-04-24) 24 April 1968 (age 56)
Srbica, Yugoslavia
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseLumnije Thaçi
Alma materUniversity of Pristina
University of Zurich

Hashim Thaçi [a] (['haʃim 'θat͡ʃi] listenⓘ, born 24 April 1968) is the Prime Minister of Kosovo[b], the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), and former political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).

Early life and education

Thaçi was born in Srbica, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia, modern day Kosovo. He studied philosophy and history at the University of Pristina. During his university years, he was an Albanian student leader and the first student president of the parallel Albanian University of Pristina that broke off in 1989 (and organized in the early 1990s) from the official University due to Kosovar Albanians' protest of Slobodan Milošević's new imposed status of the province of Kosovo.

By 1993, Thaçi joined the Albanian political émigré group in Switzerland, where he also pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Zurich in the departments of history and international relations. There he became one of the founders of the People's Movement of Kosovo (LPK).

Role in KLA

In 1993, Thaçi became a member of the inner circle of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Thaçi (nom de guerre "Gjarpëri" [The Snake]) was responsible for securing financial means and armaments, and training recruits in Albania to be dispatched to Kosovo.[citation needed] In 1997, Thaçi was tried in absentia and convicted by the Serbian authorities in Pristina for acts of terrorism associated with his activities in the KLA.[1] In March 1999, Thaçi participated in the Rambouillet negotiations as the leader of the Kosovar Albanian team.[2] Thaçi was perceived by western diplomats during the negotiations as the "voice of reason" within the KLA: his attendance at the negotiations demonstrated a willingness to accept autonomy for Kosovo within Serbia at a time when other rebel leaders rejected any solution short of full national independence.[2] Thaçi emerged from the final diplomatic settlement as the leader of the strongest faction within a KLA rife with factionalism. He moved quickly to consolidate power, unilaterally naming himself prime minister within a provisional government and allegedly ordering the assassination of the leaders of rival armed factions.[3][4]

Alleged Criminal Activities

Thaçi is alleged to have extensive criminal links. During the period of time when Thaçi was head of the Kosovo Liberation Army, it was reported by the Washington Times to be financing its activities by trafficking heroin and cocaine into western Europe.[5] KLA supporters, however, insist that in reality KLA received its financing from the Albanian diaspora in USA, Albanian, UK and USA governments.

Thaçi in particular is seen as being central to the criminal activities of the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), who reportedly extorted money from businessmen under the guise of "taxes" for Thaçi's self appointed government.[6] While the KLA was officially disbanded at the end of armed conflict in Kosovo in 1999, the new Kosovo Protection Corps was composed primarily of former KLA fighters and the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) was formed largely from the political leadership of the KLA. A near monopoly on the means of force, based on the absorption of the KLA into the KPC allowed the Democratic Party of Kosovo to seize control of the machinery of government at the municipal level.[7] The Democratic Party of Kosovo has regularly employed violence and intimidation of political rivals to maintain local political control and protect criminal enterprises which depend upon cooperation from friendly local authorities.[8]

The fact that the Democratic Party of Kosovo was seen as both corrupt and criminal led directly to the electoral defeat of the DPK in the first free elections in the province in 2001. The BBC stated at the time, "The tumbling reputation of the former KLA was to have a disastrous effect on the PDK because of the perceived overlap between its political leadership and post-KLA organised crime."[9]

A recent analysis of organized crime in Kosovo prepared by German intelligence service BND and a confidential report contracted by the German military, the Bundeswehr accuse Thaçi, as well as Ramush Haradinaj and the majority Kosovo parliament faction Xhavit Haliti of far-reaching involvement in organized crime. The BND writes: “The key players (including Haliti, Haradinaj, and Thaçi) are intimately involved in inter-linkages between politics, business, and organized crime structures in Kosovo.” The report accuses Thaçi of leading a “criminal network operating throughout Kosovo.” in the end of the 1990s. The BND report also accuses Thaçi of contacts with the Czech and Albanian mafias. In addition, it accuses him, together with Haliti, of ordering killings by an professional hit man ‘Afrimi’, who is allegedly responsible for at least 11 contract murders.[10]

Council of Europe Accusations

Further information: Organ theft in Kosovo

A report to the Council of Europe, written by Dick Marty, issued on December 15, 2010[11] states that Hacim Thaçi was leader to the "Drenica Group" in charge of trafficking organs taken from Serbian prisoners. As reported by several international,[12] Serbian,[13] Kosovan[14] and Albanian[15] news agencies, in an interview for Albanian TV Klan on December 24, 2010, Thaçi said that he would publish the methods used by Dick Marty and the names of his collaborators to write the report which accuses him of organ trafficking in Kosovo.

BBC news reports that it has seen a draft copy of the Council of Europe document, and asserts that it names "Hashim Thaci, Kosovo's current prime minister and wartime political leader of the KLA, 27 times in as many pages". The report is said by them to accuse Former KLA commanders of serious human rights abuses, including organ and drug trafficking.[16][17] In 2011 Marty retracted from earlier comments and claimed that his report never implicated Thaci directly.[18]

Victory in 2007 election and declaration of Kosovar independence

President of US George W. Bush shakes hands with Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu (center) and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi (left) during a meeting in the White House on 21 July 2008, after Kosovo declared independence.

Kosovo elections were held on 17 November 2007. After early results based on 90 per cent of the votes, Hashim Thaçi who was on course to gain 34 per cent, claimed victory for PDK, the Democratic Party of Kosovo. He stated his intention to declare independence without delay on 10 December, the date set by the United Nations for the end of negotiations with Serbia. At 45 percent, the turnout at the election was particularly low with most Serbs refusing to vote.[19]

However, on 19 November 2007, several EU foreign ministers warned Thaçi and his allies not to go ahead with their declaration of independence without consultations. Luxembourg's Jean Asselborn and Sweden's Carl Bildt urged the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) not to make any hasty moves while EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana stressed the importance of proper preparations prior to formal independence. After EU talks on Kosovo in London on 19 November 2007, the UK's Europe minister, Jim Murphy, said independence without foreign support could isolate the breakaway province.[20]

Hashim Thaçi was designated as the next leader of Kosovo's government on 11 December 2007 by Kosovar President Fatmir Sejdiu and told to form a government "as soon as possible". His Democratic Party of Kosovo began coalition talks with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) as well as the Alliance for New Kosovo. Those parties together control 75 seats of 120 in the assembly.[21] On 9 January 2008, Thaçi was elected as Prime Minister by parliament, with 85 votes in favor and 22 against. On this occasion he stated his intention to achieve independence for Kosovo in the first half of 2008.[22]

On 16 February 2008, Thaçi announced that the next day, 17 February, would be key for "implementing the will of the citizens of Kosovo", strongly implying the province would declare independence from Serbia.[23] On 17 February 2008, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia. Thaçi became Prime Minister of the newly independent state.

On 6 June 2008, a gunman failed in an attempt to assassinate Thaçi at his home in Pristina.[24]

Notes and references

Notes:

a.   ^ Albanian: Hashim Thaçi. Template:Lang-sh.
b.   ^ Template:Kosovo-note

References:

  1. ^ Hashim Thaci or When the Little Red-Cap’s Wolf is Tamed
  2. ^ a b Gall, Carlotta (3 February 1999). "Ethnic Albanian Guerrillas Will Attend Talks on Kosovo". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  3. ^ Hedges, Chris (6 June 1999). "CRISIS IN THE BALKANS: THE GUERRILLAS; Kosovo Rebel Force Will Be Serbian Province's New Power Broker". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  4. ^ Hedges, Chris (25 June 1999). "CRISIS IN THE BALKANS: THE SEPARATISTS; Leaders of Kosovo Rebels Tied to Deadly Power Play". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  5. ^ "KLA finances fight with heroin sales Terror group is linked to crime network"; Jerry Seper. Washington Times. Washington, D.C.: May 3, 1999. pg. A.1
  6. ^ "Kosovo gripped by racketeers". BBC News. 5 April 2000. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  7. ^ "Kosovo gripped by racketeers". BBC News. 5 April 2000. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  8. ^ Political violence in run-up to Kosovo vote | csmonitor.com
  9. ^ "Analysis: Kosovo chooses normality". BBC News. 30 October 2000. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  10. ^ German spy affair might have been revenge, Welt Online, 30 November 2008
  11. ^ Paul Lewis (Tuesday 14 December 2010 15.17 GMT). "Kosovo PM is head of human organ and arms ring, Council of Europe reports". The Gaurdian. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in West Balkan languages: Tači će objaviti spisak Albanaca koji su pomagali Martiju (Thaci will publish the list of Albanians who were helping Marty)
  13. ^ B92 in English: Thaci to release names of Marty’s helpers
  14. ^ Kosova Info: Thaçi ka dosje të bashkëpunëtorëve të Martyt (Thaci has record of Marty's collaborators)
  15. ^ Info Albania: Thaci ka dosje te bashkepunetoreve te Martyt
  16. ^ "BBC's comments on the draft report". BBC. Tue Dec 14, 2010 5:20pm EST. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Lawis, Paul. "Kosovo PM is head of human organ and arms ring, Council of Europe reports". Kosovo PM is head of human organ and arms ring, Council of Europe reports. Guardian. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  18. ^ Collaku, Petrit (Januar 19, 2011). "Dick Marty Clarifies Organ Harvesting Allegations". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 19 January 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "Low turnout hits Kosovo election". euronews. 2007-11-18. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  20. ^ "EU warns Kosovo on independence". BBC News. 2007-11-19. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  21. ^ "Thaci designated to head Kosovo government". Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Monsters and Critics. 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  22. ^ "Ex-rebel becomes Kosovo's prime minister". Associated Press. MSNBC. 2008-01-09. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  23. ^ "Kosovo MPs proclaim independence". BBC News. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  24. ^ "Armed attack at Kosovo PM's home". BBC News. 2008-06-07. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hashim Thaçi.

See also

Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Kosovo
1999–2000 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Kosovo
2008–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by President of the Democratic Party
2004–present 		Incumbent

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