YUGOSLAVIA: KOSOVO: THACI AND SUROI HAVE COFFE TOGETHER

submitted by europelmbh on 03/10/16 1

English/Nat In a symbolic move, K-L-A leader Hashim Thaci and ethnic Albanian campaigner Veton Suroi shared a coffee at the Grand Hotel in Pristina, once out of bounds to Albanians. The two men were cheered by huge crowds as they arrived at the hotel, which in 1991 posted signs at its entrance barring Croatians, dogs and Albanians. Suroi said it was a tangible sign of the new freedom being enjoyed by the ethnic Albanian community that they could enter the hotel and enjoy a coffee without harassment. They came to prove that the doors to The Grand Hotel in Pristina are finally open to ethnic Albanians. In 1991 this luxurious hotel in the Kosovan capital posted signs saying "No entry to Croatian, Dogs or Albanians." Today, two of the province's most prominent ethnic Albanians came here to share a cup of coffee. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We are not having a political meeting, we are having an espresso at The Grand. In 1991 at this hotel at the entrance there was a sign saying that it's forbidden, the entrance is forbidden, for Croatians, dogs and Albanians. Since 1991 we have not entered this hotel, or at least I haven't nor have any of our colleagues. I think it demonstrates the atmosphere of 1991 and it demonstrates the atmosphere of today that ultimately we were able to come here and have a coffee in relative peace and in that sense feel the new borders of what we are allowed to do and what we are not allowed to do. Freedom, among other things, is the ability to have a coffee at this hotel. " SUPER CAPTION: Veton Suroi, ethnic Albanian campaigner K-L-A leader Hashim Thaci and ethnic Albanian campaigner Veton Suroi may insist their action isn't politically motivated. But it proves that things in Pristina have significantly changed. You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1c1e4ea117ed08d03a050e5ef0599864 Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

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