Former U.S. Secretary of State Albright awarded Kosovo's golden medal of freedom

Associated Press, Jul 05, 2005 7:07 AM

PRISTINA, Serbia-Montenegro-Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was awarded Kosovo's Golden Medal of Freedom on Tuesday for her role during and after the province's war.

President Ibrahim Rugova presented the medal, given to those who help "defend the freedom," his spokesman said.

Albright also addressed a special session of the province's assembly convened in her honor, and called on the ethnic Albanian majority to do more in defending minority rights, stamping out corruption and respecting the rule of law. She was greeted with a standing ovation by the lawmakers.

The former top U.S. diplomat came in her capacity as chairwoman of the board of the Washington-based National Democratic Institute

This is her first trip to Kosovo since she was Secretary of State in 1999, when the U.S.-led air war stopped a crackdown by Serb forces of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on ethnic Albanian separatists.

Albright is considered a hero by the province's ethnic Albanians who want the province to become independent. She's reviled by many Serbs for her role during the bombing campaign.

Kosovo has been administered by the U.N. and patrolled by NATO since the end of the war.

Talks to determine its future status will take place later this year if Kosovo reaches standards on democracy, minority rights and rule of law.