KOSOVO: PRISTINA: BRITISH PM TONY BLAIR VISIT (3)

Описание: (31 Jul 1999) Eng/Serbo-Croat/Nat
Kosovo Albanians turned out en masse to give British Prime Minister Tony Blair a special welcome as he visited the Kosovo capital and urged its people to live together in peace.
People chanted "Tony! Tony!" throughout the prime minister's visit and cried "thank-you Tony!" during a speech he made to thousands of ethnic Albanians close to Pristina's bombed out police building.
On Saturday's formal visit, the Prime Minster met United Nations, Serb and Kosovar Albanian leaders - including K-L-A leader Hashim Thaqi and his political rival Ibrahim Rugova.
Following the completion of the "Balkans Stability Pact" talks in Sarajevo, British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived to a rapturous welcome on the streets of Pristina.
It was Blair's second visit to Kosovo in two days.
On Friday he had made an impromptu visit, meeting with British troops stationed there.
But this was the Prime Minister's first official visit since the NATO air-campaign against Yugoslavia began.
Blair met for a half hour with the leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Hashim Thaci, whose popularity among ethnic Albanians has soared in recent months.
The prime minister also met separately with Thaci's main political rival, Ibrahim Rugova, the moderate politician twice chosen by ethnic Albanians to be Kosovo's president in unofficial elections.
Rugova recently returned from self-imposed exile during the Kosovo conflict, and his influence has waned during his absence.
U-N officials administering the province say they regard both leaders as important to Kosovo's political future.
The two have pointedly refused to reconcile.
Blair also met local Serb politicians and leaders of the Serbian Orthodox church.
They reportedly expressed concern about revenge attacks against the province's minority Serbs by returning ethnic Albanian refugees.
Later, in front of an avid audience, Blair spoke strongly in favour of a multi-ethnic peaceful Kosovo.
SOUNDBITE: (English with Albanian translation)
"We know that justice must apply to all people, whatever their race, whatever their religion, whatever their class, whatever their background. We want all people here in Kosovo, whether Albanians, whether Serbs, whatever their background to live in peace and security and friendship, one with another. "
SUPER CAPTION: Tony Blair, British Prime Minister
And he reinforced Britain's pledge to send 100 police to Kosovo later this year to help restore an impartial civilian security presence.
Blair said he had high hopes for the future.
SOUNDBITE: (English with Albanian translation)
"I look forward to the day when I come here again, when Pristina is rebuilt, when Kosovo is rebuilt, and when all people here live in justice, and partnership and friendship for the future."
SUPER CAPTION: Tony Blair, British Prime Minister
As he left Pristina, on his way to the city's sports stadium where his helicopter was waiting, Mr Blair met a detachment of the Royal Military Police who had been helping restore law and order to the city.
He was also met by Nato's K-FOR commander General Sir Mike Jackson who bade him farewell and safe journey from Kosovo on to Tuscany in Italy where he is to spend a holiday.

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