(13 Mar 1998) English/Nat
Thousands of Albanian-Americans came out in support of their loved ones in Kosovo on Thursday.
They held a rally outside the U-S Capitol Hill in Washington DC, hoping that lawmakers would hear their pleas for help.
Meanwhile, the House International Relations Committee passed yet another resolution condemning the violence and oppression against Albanians in Kosovo.
Many of them, including the lawmaker who passed the resolution, are saying it is time to back up those words with action.
They came to the nation's capitol from all over the country.
Thousands of Albanian-Americans who hope their presence here will send a loud signal to U-S lawmakers.
UPSOUND: (English)
"Free Kosova"
SUPER CAPTION: Demonstrators
In the Serbian province of Kosovo, the predominately ethnic Albanian population is seeking self-rule.
Serb police, who have accused some Albanians of terrorism, have cracked down, killing scores of civilians.
These protestors say they are tired of seeing their families murdered, and they're asking the United States to help.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We want the world to know that we Albanians will resist terror with terror. We are not going to be slaughtered like the Jews. We are going to fight, we are going to protect our children, we are going to protect our homes, and Milosevic is totally wrong if he thinks he is going to exterminate us."
SUPER CAPTION: Luan Isufi, President, Albanian American National Community
The Clinton administration has declared the repression by the Serbs "ethnic cleansing."
And on Monday the U-S, along with Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Russia agreed to step up sanctions against Yugoslavia if Milosevic does not reverse course by the 19th of March.
But the Albanian American National Community hopes the international community will do more.
And in the meantime, they want their loved ones to know they're fighting for them on this end.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"What the Albanian-Americans can do here in the United States is unite as one and come to the help of their brothers and sisters in Kosova, be it financial assistance or just moral support. And I can tell you just with our presence here, they know we're here, they feel our presence."
SUPER CAPTION: Agron Gashi, Albanian-American
In a neighboring House office building, these two New York Congressmen who chair the Congressional Caucus on Albanian Issues, were busy urging the Clinton administration to take a tougher stand on Kosovo.
U-S Democrat Eliot Engel says he applauds the tough position taken by the international contact group, but he says those statements must be backed up by strong actions.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"By Congress going on record very very forcefully, it will allow the authorities in Belgrade to understand that the United States is going to put its money where its mouth is."
SUPER CAPTION: Congressman Eliot Engel, Democrat, New York
Also on Capitol Hill, a man whose followers call him Kosovo's Prime Minister in Exile.
He urged lawmakers, Albanians are ready to fight for their freedom, but they cannot do it alone.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"This is a warning, we are warning, we have no tools to impose our will, but we are warning the international community and we are demanding now to act now concretely for the United States to take definitely and finally the leading role, together with our timid European allies, to make Milosevic's guns silent."
SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Bujar Bukoshi, Kosovo's Prime Minister in Exile
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