Rubin for Thaci: Albright wanted me to meet him, make him a friend and a diplomatic friend, and I did.

James Rubin, former State Undersecretary of State, has started testifying at the Special Court as a defence guest to testify in Thaci's case and others.

From Hashim Thaci's defence, Rubin was asked how he came to recognise Hashim Thaci in the first place and how relations have developed between them.

Rubin said they had no knowledge of The KLA, but that in Rambouille, he was asked by Madeleine Albright himself to become a relative of Hashim Thaci -- get to know him closely.

Mistiq: How did you interact with Thaci during the raves?

RubinI remember the first meeting, recorded in the cable. I remember that he immediately recognized me because I was the spokesman of DAS, and I was on TV.

And Mrs. Albright noticed that he recognized me, she was good at human relations, and she said talk to me and get to know him.

Because I knew, and we wanted to know a little bit more who was the head of the delegation, which we wanted to be in peace agreement.

He told me to meet him, and I did. For those two weeks I stayed with him, we ate together, had a cigarette, walked along, and I tried to get to know him.

Albright thought it was useful, and I knew her best attempts than anyone else, and jao wanted me to know her so that I could become a colleague, friend, and diplomatic friend.

And I spent so much time with him.