(ANSA-AP) - PRISTINA, JUNE 12 - Kosovo on Wednesday
celebrated the 20th anniversary of the deployment of NATO troops
in an operation that helped stop a Serb military crackdown on
ethnic Albanians that left more than 10,000 dead.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, ex-Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright and ex-NATO commander Wesley Clark were
joined by other world leaders at Skenderbeu Square downtown the
capital, Pristina. Recalling the intervention, Albright
described how Clinton woke her up in the night to tell her that
jets had left for Kosovo, saying: "We are doing the right
thing!" "We did it because our cause was fair," she said. "We
will never forget about you. The future belongs to you." Long
applause broke out in the square, and some held a big U.S. flag
and shouted "U.S.A.!"
Clinton called on Kosovars to "never forget the challenges"
ahead. "A new form of courage and patience is needed to build
the future," he said.
Kosovo's 1998-99 war ended with a 78-day NATO air campaign.
It declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade -
along with countries including Russia and China - do not
recognize it and relations remain tense. A European
Union-facilitated dialogue between the two sides since 2011 has
stalled. Kosovo's independence is recognized by 115 countries.
(ANSA-AP).
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