US backs Macedonia's line on Albanian insurgents

(7 May 2001)

7 May 2001, Washington, D.C.
1. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer speaking to journalists
2. Reporters listening
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ari Fleischer, White House spokesman
"The president supports the efforts of the government of Macedonia to fight the extremists who have brought the violence to the region. The president has made clear to (Macedonian) President Trajkovksi, who himself said he's dedicated to making certain that we can protect the civilians."
4. Reporters
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ari Fleischer, White House spokesman
"I think that the whole history of that region has been very difficult for people who are in power, and the whole instability that has come from extremist actions in Macedonia and other places in the Balkans, and the president wants to make certain that Macedonia is able to take the action they need to combat the problem that has been created by the extremists."
6. Pan from journalists to Fleischer

STORYLINE:

The Bush administration has voiced support for (Former Yugoslav Republic of) Macedonian soldiers and political leaders who cracked down on Albanian rebels over the weekend.

President George W. Bush "supports the efforts of the government of Macedonia to fight the extremists who have brought the violence to the region," White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said.

Bush met last week with Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski in Washington and told him, Fleischer said, that the ultimate answer to Macedonia's ethnic strife must be a political solution.

Fleischer added Bush wanted to be sure Macedonia could take the action needed to combat the extremists.

Macedonian troops launched a weekend offensive, forcing ethnic Albanian rebels to flee across a nearby border into Kosovo while the government ordered residents of several villages to evacuate and claimed the rebels were holding hundreds of civilians as human shields.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1fd8b99c1d5de8535c8c3046443b7b8b

Видео US backs Macedonia's line on Albanian insurgents канала AP Archive