Whenever one remembers the NATO airstrikes campaign, launched on March 24, 1999, the first person that comes to people’s mind is Jamie Shea, at that time NATO spokesman, who, through frequent media conferences, which were followed around the world, became a universally known figure.

For Kosovars, his orders to the Serbian dictator, Milosevic, remain in the memory. “NATO will win” because “its forces will leave Kosovo”, while “Albanians will return to their homes”. All this gave hope to the Albanians in the refugee camps in Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro, that they will return to their homes, which were in Kosovo, that one day they will be freed.

Now, when the 20th anniversary of the launch of the NATO air campaign is marked, to end the violence and crimes of the Serbian forces in Kosovo, Jamie Shea is retired. But he willingly found time for an interview, for “Koha Ditore”, to recall those dramatic moments 20 years ago.

20 years have passed since the beginning of the air campaign against Milosevic. At that time you were the face of NATO in the world. How do you remember today that night of March 24, 20 years ago?

Shea: For me it will remain one of the most dramatic moments. It was also a moment of desperation, because NATO hoped that the Ramboullie Agreement would be accepted by both sides; it was accepted by the Kosovar Albanians, but rejected by Milosevic and Milutinovic and by the Serbian side. So, there was a sense of desperation why this great effort made by the United States and its allies to reach a negotiated agreement had failed.

But what I also remember is the strong commitment to keep our word, and if the violence in Kosovo continued, which it actually did, in the event of Rambouillet’s failure, NATO would act. So, there was a sense of despair because the political solution was not reached, but also a sense of relief for the commitment of the Alliance to act and keep the promise that it would use the air force to prevent the new round of ethnic cleansing and the violation of human rights.

Besides the military attacks, at that time what was called the “media battle” was also taking place. As NATO spokesman, what was the most difficult part of your job at that time?

Shea: There were many challenges at that time, and the first was to prepare public opinion in NATO member countries for a longer campaign than many politicians expected. Some thought that 24 or 48 hours of bombing would be enough and Milosevic would surrender and agree to return to the Rambouillet Agreement and agree to withdraw his forces from Kosovo and the other conditions that NATO had set for him… (You can read the full article today in “E Diela me Koha Ditore”)

Kaynak: prizrenpost