Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has accused former US President Joe Biden of betraying Hashim Thaçi, just days after the former Kosova president was sentenced to 25 years in prison in The Hague.
Rama made the remarks in New York during a gala evening organized by the Council for Albanian-American Relations. He told the audience he was missing someone who had always been a guest at the event.
“He is not with us today because this country betrayed him. Because Joe Biden, who called him the George Washington of Kosova, betrayed him. Because even though General Clark did his best, this country did not do its best,” Rama said.
“I am sure this country could have done more. First of all, by not allowing this farce to begin,” he added.
The nickname dates back to Thaçi’s years as one of Washington’s closest partners in the region. During a visit to the White House, then US Vice President Joe Biden hailed him as the “George Washington of Kosovo”.
Thaçi, who led Kosova through its 2008 declaration of independence, was convicted of war crimes by the Kosova Specialist Chambers earlier this month. He had told judges at the end of his trial that he had always been guided by Western ideals of democracy, equality and justice, and said in late August he expected a full acquittal.
