THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Kosovo’s former president cast himself Wednesday as a statesman and peacemaker as he urged international judges to acquit him of what he called groundless charges including murder, torture and persecution dating from his nation’s struggle for independence. “Throughout my life, I stood with the people of Kosovo defending freedom, life and dignity. I was always guided by the Western ideals of democracy, equality and justice,” Hashim Thaci told judges at the end of