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CNN World Report

Balkan Conflict Pushes Macedonian Refugees Into Familiar Country

Aired June 17, 2001 - 14:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: We begin in the Balkans, where international efforts are intensifying to end a four-month old conflict between ethnic Albanian rebels and the Macedonian government. The rebels say they are fighting for better rights for the country's ethnic Albanian minority; the government contends the rebels are separatists, bent on carving up the nation.

The conflict has pushed thousands of refugees into neighboring Kosovo, a Serbian province trying to heel ethnic divisions of its own. Many of the Macedonian refugees have relatives in Kosovo. UNMIK Television has more on their plight.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VICTORIA SCHULTZ, UNMIK TV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A taxi driver leaves a family of refugees he has driven for free, from the border of Kosovo to the city. This is his contribution to ease the plight of the ethnic Albanians who, by the thousands, are fleeing the fighting in the villages of Macedonia.

This family comes from a small village, a rebel strong hold, since February, over 30,000 refugees, from Macedonia, have entered Kosovo. Most of them are staying with host families, often people who looked after them before, as is the case here.

SELVETE BEQIRI, HOST TO REFUGEES (through translator): Two years ago, there was a war here, and we had to leave our houses in the same way as the Albanians and Macedonians are now pushed out of their homes. We have to receive them now, because they received us very well -- hopefully we will be able to welcome them as warmly as they welcomed us.

SCHULTZ: All-in-all, 60 persons have arrived, most of them children who have gone through very frightening experiences.

HAKIMNE BEQIRI, MACEDONIAN REFUGEE (through translator): When we were at home, they shot over our roofs and over the hills, police then came to our place to check it out.

SCHULTZ: Generosity and a warm welcome translates into a lot of work for the host families, clean glasses are needed to give all the kids something to drink. The people here never forgot that they found a shelter and a safe place with a family who has now come to them. ELHAME BEQIRI, MACEDONIAN REFUGEE (through translator): They called us, and said to us, if are you in trouble, come, so then, the day after, we got up and left.

SCHULTZ: The refugees sign up at the border with the International Refugee Organization, UNHCR, in order to eventually get an aide package as well as food assistance. However, in the meantime, the weary newcomers and especially the kids need to be fed, now that the situation in Kosovo has calmed down, individuals are waiting to share whatever they have.

Breaking bread to give to the children, the young woman returns a good dead done to her family during the exodus of a million people out of Kosovo.

Because the kids know the ones here, they are ready to play in a strange city, one girl even has the courage to clown around to forget the horrors of war.

(on camera): People don't often have a opportunity to return a favor in the way it was done; here, a bad situation has given many the chance to do so.

This is Victoria Schultz of UNMIK Television, reporting from Kosovo for CNN WORLD REPORT.

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