Bill Clinton can be unequivocally considered as one of the greatest friends of Albanians in history. This Monday he comes for the first time in Tirana. Previously he also visited Kosovo, to once again receive the deepest appreciation and gratitude of an entire nation.

24 years ago, through a historic speech, the most powerful man in the world at that time, Bill Clinton, announced that for the first time the world would go to war to protect the Albanians.
“Today, our Armed Forces, together with our NATO allies, participated in airstrikes against Serbian forces, which are responsible for the brutality exercised in Kosovo,” Clinton said.

On March 24, 1999, in an address to his nation, Clinton told Americans that they were going to war against Milosevic to end Serbian barbarism.

  “We are acting to protect thousands of innocent people in Kosovo. If Milosevic does not want peace, we will prevent him from making war. We are taking these actions to destroy a powder keg in the heart of Europe, which has previously exploded twice this century, with catastrophic consequences. We want to save innocent lives, because our children deserve a free Europe”, he continued.

In simple words, Clinton explained to millions of Americans what Kosovo represented and what needed to be done for the Albanians there.

  “In these moments, our determination is the only hope for the people of Kosovo, so that they can live in their country without fearing for their lives,” he said.

After the liberation of the Albanians, Bill Clinton visited Kosovo twice, in November 1999 in just a few months of freedom and 10 years later in 2019, when he received all the deserved recognition.

While receiving the “Order of Freedom” from President Thaçi for his contribution to the liberation of Kosovo, Clinton had a message:

  “In an ambiguous political environment in America, Kosovo seems to be the only topic on which all Americans agree. I will always be proud of the fact that I was president of the United States at a time when you needed someone to stand by you. We won the war, it’s time for you to win peace,” he said.

/k.s/