Albright Interview Oct. 6 on CNN's Early Edition
U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
October 6, 2000
INTERVIEW OF SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT ON CNN'S EARLY
EDITION
Washington, D.C.
October 6, 2000
Q: She hasn't been able to hear the news that we have gotten here at
CNN about the Russian Prime Minister, Igor Ivanov, congratulating
Vojislav Kostunica for his electoral win.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Great news, and I congratulate the Serbian people,
President Kostunica and the Russians for having put this last piece of
the puzzle into place. The Russian recognition of President Kostunica
is very, very important, because they have always had a special
relationship with the Serbian people. We are very glad that Russia has
now joined the rest of Europe and us in congratulating the victory of
President Kostunica.
Q: Now that that has happened, what next?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, I think now what has to happen is that we
all do our best to help the new democratic Yugoslavia integrate into
Europe. The sanctions will be lifted as soon as it is clear that
Kostunica is in and Milosevic is out. And we will also do everything
we can to begin to, with our European allies, flow assistance into the
new Yugoslavia so that it can be reconstructed, and they can have the
normal life that the rest of the Europeans and the Balkans are
beginning to have. They have missed out on the great story of Europe
in the post-Cold War. They now need to be a part of that story and
play a very important role. We are very, very pleased by what Igor
Ivanov -- the message that he has brought from President Putin.
Q: Now you have mentioned the sanctions that have been in place for
several years against that country. We have already seen reports that
some European leaders and the allies are saying that they will lift
them as early as Monday. What will the US wait for?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, everything is moving pretty quickly. We will
talk about all this today. There is no reason to have sanctions
against the Serb people. The sanctions were against the Milosevic
regime. And if Milosevic is truly finished, then we will proceed to
join our European friends.
Q: Was there any coordination at all, or any communication with the
Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov before these talks?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: There has been a lot of coordination with Foreign
Minister Ivanov. We have been on the phone many, many times. The
Russians have been closely working with everybody. You know, they have
been part of the contact group; we have been together in Bosnia and
Kosovo. It is very important that they are part of this. Yes, there
has been a lot of contact.
Q: Now, are you joining the skepticism that has been expressed by some
around Yugoslavia, notably the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Ivan Kostov,
this morning saying he expects some violence, some sort of last
desperate spasm from Mr. Milosevic. Is that what you are expecting?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, one never knows. I mean, Milosevic has the
ability to manipulate the system, but some of the news that has been
coming out in terms of where the army is, where the security forces
are, and the huge numbers of people. This is not just Belgrade; these
are ordinary people flowing in from the countryside, some of whom have
been Milosevic supporters, coming in and showing that they want a free
Yugoslavia. But it's not over until it's over, and we are going to be
watching it very, very closely -- very closely -- in the next 24 and
48 hours. But the Russian piece here -- I cannot tell you how
important it is, and how important it is to the Yugoslav people.
Q: You know, with that in mind, what jumps in my mind first as a
question is, now that you are so close -- you being a representative
of the West, and knowing what the West has been trying to accomplish
in Yugoslavia -- knowing now that you are this close to having Mr.
Milosevic out of there, is it now time to say he does not -- asylum is
not a bad deal in return for his leaving?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: We have made very clear our position on this. I
think that it is important for the new Yugoslavia to be a country of
rule of law, and to have democratic values and to operate in that way.
I think what is important now is to make clear that Kostunica is in
power, and we have to do everything we can to support him, and
Milosevic has to get out of the way.
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