Kosovo leaders and its citizens massively took social media to mourn former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who passed away on Wednesday evening.

Kosovo Mourns US Envoy Madeleine Albright

US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright poses with ethnic Albanian refugees at the camp in Stenkovec near Skopje, Friday 11 June 1999. Photo: EPA PHOTO/EPA/STRINGER

As the news on the death on former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright broke out on Wednesday evening, many Kosovars took social media to commemorate the diplomat which is considered one of Kosovo’s greatest friends for her role during the 1998-99 conflict which saw the end of Yugoslav rule on the territory.

Born in Prague in then Czechoslovakia in 1937 and spent her early childhood life in Belgrade, where her father Joseph Korbel was serving as diplomat.

In 1948 her family immigrated to the United States and 49 years later she became the first female State Secretary after serving in different positions in US administration.

In her position as Secretary of State under Clinton administration, Albright played a key role to NATO’s 78-day bombing campaign in 1999 to end Milosevic’s forces’ campaign of repression and ethnic cleansing against Kosovo Albanians.

“Almost three years ago, we took our last trip together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Kosovo’s fight for independence, when they dedicated a statue of her in downtown Pristina. She had a richly deserved happy day,” former US President Bill Clinton said in his statement on Albright’s passing.

The Western alliance began bombing Yugoslavia after diplomatic negotiations at Rambouillet in France failed when Slobodan Milosevic refused to sign a peace agreement because it envisaged NATO forces being deployed in Kosovo, which it said would become an autonomous province within Yugoslavia.

NATO described its campaign as a ‘humanitarian intervention’. The alliance launched the military operation without the approval of the UN Security Council, as Serbia’s ally Russia strongly opposed the intervention.

“Kosovo lost an invaluable friend today. We’re saddened beyond words by the passing of the formidable and inspiring Secretary Madeleine Albright,” Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said on Twitter.

“Her contribution to our freedom & democracy will never be forgotten. With her work, she left this world a better place. RIP dear friend,” Osmani added.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti also said that Kosovo will miss Albright.

“Saddened to hear of the passing of Madeline Albright, a remarkable woman with uncompromising morals for the United States, a friend of Kosova to the end, and a partner with all who pursued peace, freedom and democracy,” Kurti said.

Pandeli Majko, Albanian politician who served as Prime Minister during 1999 refugee crisis in Kosovo, called Albright as “special friend of Albanian nation”.

“She was an example that power requires authority. For Albanians, in difficult days, US had the image of Madeleine Albright,” Majko said on Wednesday evening.

Source link: balkaninsight.com