PRISTINA, Kosovo November 1, 2009 - Former US President Bill Clinton attended the unveiling of a statue of himself in the capital of Kosovo, Pristina today. The 3.5 meter (11 ft) bronze statue was inaugurated at Bill Clinton Boulevard* to loud applomb by thousands of ethnic Albanians who braved low temperatures and cold wind to come witness the event.
*Following the 1998-99 war, authorities in Pristina changed the name of the capital city's thoroughfare from Vladimir Lenin Street to Bill Clinton Boulevard.
Many Albanians regard Mr Clinton as a hero for launching NATO's air bombing campaign to drive Yugoslavia's troops out of the Serbian province in 1999.
"I am profoundly grateful that I had a chance to be a part of ending horrible things that were happening here 10 years ago and giving you a chance to build a better future for yourselves,"
"Every time you see this statue I want you to remember that all I want for you is a good future and I will do everything I can to support it for the rest of my life,"
Former US President Bill Clinton, addressing the crowd that attended the unveiling.
About Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III, August 19, 1946) served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He was the fifteenth Democrat elected to that office. He was the third-youngest president, only older than Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy when he went into office.
About the Republic of Kosovo
Kosovo is a disputed territory in the Balkans. Its majority is governed by the partially-recognised Republic of Kosovo, a self-declared independent state which has de facto control over the territory; the exceptions are some Serb enclaves. Serbia does not recognise the secession of Kosovo and considers it a United Nations-governed entity within its sovereign territory, the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, according to the Constitution of Serbia (2006).
Kosovo is a landlocked territory. Apart from being disputed by Serbia with which it forms a continuous land north and eastward, the remainder is bordered by the Republic of Macedonia to the south, Albania to the west and Montenegro to the northwest (all of which recognise Kosovo as independent). The largest city and the capital of Kosovo is Pristina (alternatively spelled Prishtina or Priština), while other cities include Peć (Peja), Prizren, Đakovica (Gjakova), and Kosovska Mitrovica (Mitrovica). Source: Wikipedia
