KOSOVO: BONDSTEEL CAMP: CLINTON ATTENDS THANKSGIVING

Описание: (23 Nov 1999) English/Nat

U-S troops on an American army base in Kosovo celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday early, to coincide with the visit of their President, Bill Clinton.

In his speech to the soldiers, Clinton thanked them for helping putting an end to ethnic cleansing in the region.

The arrival of President Bill Clinton at the massive Bondsteel base came two days ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday back home in America.

His visit was meant as a reminder to the soldiers that though far from home, they had not been forgotten.

Many grabbed the chance to get a photograph with their commander-in-chief.

President Clinton thanked the troops for putting an end to the ethnic cleansing in the breakaway Yugoslav province.

And he emphasised the role the soldiers could play in trying to combat the ethnic hatred in Kosovo.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The most important thing you can do beside keeping these people alive and having security is to teach (tolerance) to the children and to the parents by the power of your example and your own testimony. Because I'm telling you what they're going through her today is an example, but by no means the only example, of the worst problem the world faces on the eve of the new Millennium and it violates everything we in America stand for. And the power of our weapons could win the military battle in Kosovo, but the peace can only be won by the human heart. And everyday they see you, the little kids see you working together, even if you don't speak their language, even if they never met any African Americans before, any Hispanics, even if they never knew any Asians before - they can see, they have eyes, they'll get it. When you just show up, you be yourself, you do what you're supposed to do, treat them right, the power of your example will show them you do not have to be trapped in the pattern which led to the slaughter of a quarter of a (m) million people in Bosnia, two and a half (m) million refugees there, almost a (m) million refugees here, though we acted quicker and because we acted quicker they all came home. But now they've came home, they've got to know how to win the peace. And I say that to the other nations who are here represented I want to see Americans working with you. I want people, I want these children to know that the world is a better place when people are proud of their own ethnicity, race and religion, but respectful of others. When they are secure enough in who they are that they don't have to put anyone else down, hurt anyone else, torch anyone else's church or mosque just to feel they matter. This is the most important issue in the whole world today. And just by getting up everyday, going to work, keeping the kind of morale you manifested today with your cheers and your pride you are a rebuke to the biggest problem in the world. And the power of your example can do more than anything else to help us to win the peace. Thank you. God Bless you and Happy Thanksgiving."
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, US President

The visit to Task force Falcon and Kosovo by the President was marked with the presentation of a trophy.

Clinton's brief stop in Kosovo is his first since the NATO bombing campaign ended five months ago.

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