Albright Interview on NBC's Meet The Press
INTERVIEW OF SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT
ON NBC'S MEET THE PRESS
October 8, 2000
Q: And we are back. Madame Secretary, as you know, the people of
Yugoslavia took to the streets and said to Slobodan Milosevic, get
out. He is now out. The country is anxious to return to the family of
nations, have sanctions lifted. Is that possible until Mr. Milosevic
is turned over as a war criminal to the International Court at The
Hague?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, I do think we all need to congratulate the
people of Yugoslavia, because they went out after being subjected to
manipulation and really terrorism not to go out and vote, and they
did. They went out in a mass and they showed their really true colors.
I have always believed that the Serbian people understood the value of
democracy. I think they also now want very much to be a part of
Europe, and being a part of Europe is understanding democracy and the
rule of law.
I have been a great supporter of the War Crimes Tribunal, because I
really think that ultimately what it does is to expunge collective
guilt and assign individual guilt. In order for Yugoslavia to become a
normal nation, that has to happen; there has to be accountability. Our
position has been clear, and it has not changed at all.
What Kostunica has to do now - he has a huge job --
Q: The new president.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: The new president, Kostunica - he has to
consolidate what he has gotten. The Yugoslav economy is a disaster,
and we have to do everything we can to help. There also still are
divisions, and as you saw from yesterday, there are still problems in
the parliament, and he has to consolidate his position. We want to
support him; we want to get assistance to him. I have been talking to
our European partners. We will be lifting certain sanctions that were
directed -- economic sanctions to make sure that the people can
recover and the Danube is cleared. Then we have to give some
assistance. And they have to be a part of Europe, and rule of law is
part of it.
Q: But he has said that he will not extradite Mr. Milosevic to be
tried as a war criminal.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: He is also -- Mr. Kostunica -- he is a
constitutional lawyer, he likes legal ways. I think we need to give
him time to consolidate his regime. I think there cannot ultimately be
a normal Yugoslavia until there is accountability. Our position on
this hasn't changed.
Q: So you are for the extradition of Mr. Milosevic?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I am for accountability and the rule of law, and I
am for having Yugoslavia be part of a normal Europe. I have been a
supporter all along of the War Crimes Tribunal.
Q: So unless Mr. Milosevic is tried as a war criminal, we cannot have
normal relations with Yugoslavia?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, I think there are a whole host of different
levels to this, but I really think that we need to give Mr. Kostunica
a chance to do his work, to consolidate what he has. The statute of
limitations on war crimes - there is no statute of limitations, it
doesn't run out. Accountability will be necessary for there to be
ultimately a totally good, normal rule-of-law, democratic Yugoslavia.
That is my personal belief.
Q: Critics will say that Mr. Mladic, Mr. Karadzic -- also war
criminals - roam around Yugoslavia, untouched, never brought to
justice, and the same is going to happen with Mr. Milosevic because
the United States will not insist on it.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: The United States has insisted, and believe me,
their time will come.
Q: Why not deny all assistance or aid until Mr. Milosevic is tried?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Because I think what we have to do is show the
Serb people that they did the right thing by going out to vote. They
need to have some dividends out of democracy. They took a huge risk to
get out there and vote. If you saw - there were lots of signs out
there that said Milosevic should go, that they wanted to see his end.
They will get behind this, believe me, when they figure out that they
are free and democratic and that they will be a part of a real Europe.
Everybody is ready to welcome them; let's reward them for what they
have done. We weren't out in the streets; we supported it, but they
are the ones that were out there. I congratulate them.
Q: You have no doubt the time will come when Mr. Milosevic is tried as
a war criminal.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I have no doubt that there will be accountability,
and that Yugoslavia will not be truly free until that happens. But I
do think that what has to happen is we have to give President
Kostunica now a chance; let's help him. The people of Serbia have
voted for him; let's help him.
Q: Did the Russians play a constructive role in the Yugoslavia matter?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I think that they played a complicated role
because they were trying to assess the situation from their
perspective. I think that frankly they were late. I spoke with Foreign
Minister Ivanov many times; I think that it took them a little while
to assess the reality there, but ultimately, in recognizing President
Kostunica, they have done the right thing.
Q: During the debate Governor Bush suggested that the Russians step
up, as he said, and try to play a constructive role in the process -
"use their sway" were his words - and he was criticized somewhat by
Vice President Gore for suggesting that. In fact, what Governor Bush
suggested was exactly what you were working on with the Russians.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I think that we did not want the Russians to
mediate, and that is where -- Vice President Gore made that quite
clear. It wasn't a matter of mediating between Milosevic and Kostunica
--
Q: But Governor Bush never said mediate; he said, step up and use
persuasion.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, I think that what had to happen here is that
the Russians could play a useful role. They weren't the only ones
there, and I think that they actually - that the way Vice President
Gore described it was right. They did not play the role that they
needed to at the right time.
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