3 hours agoFull transcript of Thaci phone conversation in 1999: “
Periskopi(9 months ago)
(9 months ago)An agreement on the deilitarisation of the Kosovo Liberation Army was signed and Serbian forces had withdrawn from the country following NATO's bombing campaign. The then president of the United States, Bill Clinton, was in Köln, Germany, for a G-8 summit on June 20, 1999, and from his hotel room at Hayatt do [...]
The then president of the United States, Bill Clinton, was in Köln, Germany, for a G-8 summit on June 20, 1999, and from his room at the Hayatt Hotel, he would call KLA leader Hashim Thaci.
A presidential registry shows Thaci's transcript of phone conversations with Clinton.
After receiving congratulations from Clinton, Thaci told him the success was shared. While the American president promised him cooperation, security, police, real self-government, the leader of The KLA, on the other hand, guaranteed that it would respect human and minority rights.
The latter had loved Clinton, who told him that the future would be good.
The conversation also mentioned Slobodan Milosevic, the return of refugees to Kosovo, reconstruction, the establishment of a civil society and the holding of free elections.
B I SEDA TELEFONIC CNLINEON THACHAE:
DATA, ORA, COUNTRY:
June 20, 1999, 18:30 - 18:40
Hyatt Hotel, Köln, Germany
Clinton: Congratulations on the signing of the KLA deilitarisation and transformation agreement. I am very glad that this happened the same day Serbian forces completed their withdrawal from Kosovo.
Thaci: Thank you. It is an honor to congratulate us on deilitarizing and transforming the NLA. This is also your success. For us, it has been a compromise for the sake of working towards peace and stability in Kosovo and the region.
Clinton: I know. And I'm grateful for that. I can assure you that we will fully co-operate to bring security, a local police force and true self-government to the people of Kosovo. This is a very important day for Kosovo. I am very glad that we have managed to change the course of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.
Thaci: This process is also the result of your efforts. We in the past have been committed and will continue to be committed to the peace process. We can guarantee that we will respect human rights and minority rights in Kosovo. We are committed to bringing freedom, peace and democracy to all ethnic groups in Kosovo. We will also work on a free and open economy. Our discussion today will also be an incentive to these goals.
Clinton: Your statement on respect for human rights and minority rights is very important. After the suffering of the people of Kosovo, the fact that you take the lead in these issues means to prove to everyone that our cause is right. Milosevic is not like the others. We'll have a good future. I expect to meet you and admire your leadership.
Thaci: Thank you, Mr. President. The new battle ahead is the return of refugees, reconstruction, civil society, and the holding of free and pluralistic elections. And we will do this through our mechanisms, but also with your help and support. I wish you health and success in your life and work.
President: Thank you. Bye.
End of conversation
