Millions of Germans, perhaps 40 million, fled and no one had any sympathy because they were guilty. It's a little bit like that now. NATO was supposed to synchronize its movements with the withdrawal of the Serbs to prevent this vacuum, and it didn't happen. While every Albanian knew they would come home one day, these Serbs know they'll never come back. I don't question that in one way, but it adds to the wave of sorrow and misery here.
Albanian responses are relief, happiness and some glee.
In Prizren on Sunday, the main square was full of Albanians of all ages who had never left, but had hidden in their apartments for nearly three months, sending women and old men out to try to buy bread. They sang and cheered and gave flowers to young German soldiers of NATO's force. One young German, riding behind a machine gun on his jeep, had flowers strewn at his feet and tears pouring from his eyes. Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on June 14, 1999. All rights reserved.