KOSOVO: ALBRIGHT VISIT (5)

Описание: (29 Jul 1999) English/Nat

U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright paid a one-day visit to Kosovo on Thursday to take a firsthand look at postwar reconstruction.

While she was granted an affectionate welcome by the ethnic Albanian community, she received a hostile reception at an ancient Serbian Orthodox monastery in Gracanica, just south of Pristina.

Albright - the highest ranking U-S officials to visit the province since NATO ended its 78 day air-campaign in June - also found time to visit U-S troops stationed in the province.

Madeleine Albright went first to the headquarters of the NATO peacekeeping force, known as K-FOR, where she met the NATO commander, British Lt. Gen. Mike Jackson, and the chief U-N administrator in the province, Bernard Kouchner of France.

Albright emerged from the talks with a positive outlook for the future of the province.

She then addressed a large crowd of ethnic Albanians who were waiting to see her.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Let there be no mistake. As long as you choose, Kosovo will remain your home."
SUPER CAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U-S Secretary of State

About 2-thousand Albanians, many chanting "U-S-A," greeted Albright, whom they affectionately call "Nona," or Mother.

The crowd responded enthusiastically when she declared that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic should answer for his crimes.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"And it is reflected in our support for the International War Crimes tribunal that justice is apparent to peace. That those indicted for ethnic cleansing and murder should be held legally accountable and that Slobodan Milosevic should answer for his crimes."
SUPER CAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U-S Secretary of State

A tense moment followed Albright's speech as she met Hashim Thaci, head of the Kosovo Liberation Army and de facto leader of Kosovo's ethnic Albanians.

A gunshot rang out as Thaci pulled up to the U-N headquarters to met Albright.

U-N security agents rushed out of the building and Thaci's guards surrounded his car.

Many bystanders dropped to the ground.

British soldiers guarding the area said there was no indication where the shot came from or where it might have been aimed.

Albright was inside the building.

Later on Thursday, Albright received a hostile reception when she visited an ancient Serbian Orthodox monastery in Gracanica, just south of Pristina.

Approximately 150 people, mostly Serb men, gathered outside the monastery and chanted "Serbia, Serbia" and "Slobo, Slobo" for Slobodan Milosevic as her armoured car left the compound.

They also chanted "Stara Kurvo," which means 'old whore.'

Albright met with political and religious leaders at the monastery to discuss increasing violence against Serbs by ethnic Albanians since the withdrawal of Serb-led Yugoslav forces last month and the subsequent arrival of NATO peacekeepers.

The hostile reception was a sharp contrast to the hero's welcome Albright received from ethnic Albanians.

As soon as Albright and K-FOR left Gracanica, an angry Serb crowd stormed the monastery.

The pro-Milosevic crowd accused the monastery workers of being traitors for receiving a U-S official.

The 600 year old monastery is an important religious site to the Serb orthodox community.

And her last port of call, was the largest U-S military base in Kosovo.

The base is at Bondsteel, 50 km south of the capital Pristina.

Soldiers queued to have their photograph taken with the Secretary of State as well as State Department spokesman James Rubin.

SOUNDBITE: (English)


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