(22 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pristina – 22 July 2024
1. Various of people walking in streets of downtown Pristina
2. SOUNDBITE (Albanian) Izet Zhuja, 78, Pristina resident:
“In a certain way that is right, though he was one of America’s best politicians (speaking of US President Joe Biden). He too, for us, has been very good as he and his sons have helped us in Kosovo’s liberation and the existing situation and he would continue to help us. But age has its time and the change was necessary. I am not sure how good for us the next selection (of presidential candidate) will be. But we cannot interfere as America is America and we wait.”
3. Various of bookshop
4. SOUNDBITE (Albanian) Mirsad Krasniqi, 58, bookshop owner:
“Yes, I learnt that he withdrew. I believe he did good. It was good for the country of America. It was seen recently that he had problems, the age, any illness. He was also infected by COVID recently. I believe he did good.”
5. People walking
6. SOUNDBITE (Albanian) Ilir Qosha, 73, Pristina resident:
“I believe Biden should not have been a candidate for the second term due to his age and health situation. Last night it was a good situation that he withdrew. Americans have that special system of electing the president. I believe that a little bit more pressure from the Democrats brought about that decision.”
7. People walking along path
STORYLINE:
People in Kosovo on Monday reacted to U.S. President Joe Biden’s announcement he was dropping out of the race for the White House, issuing their support over the decision and remembering his family’s contribution to the country.
Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection after a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about the incumbent’s fitness for office.
Kosovo is one of the most pro-American countries in the world, where ethnic Albanians consider the United States as their saviour for leading the NATO air campaign in 1999 to force Serbian forces out of the country.
“I believe Biden should not have been a candidate for the second term due to his age and health situation,” said Ilir Qosha, 73, a resident in the capital Pristina.
"He was one of America’s best politicians,” said Izet Zhuja, 78, also a Pristina resident. “But age has its time and the change was necessary.”
Kosovo, run by the United Nations until 2008 when it declared independence, has been recognised by the United States and other Western countries but not by Serbia and its allies, Russia and China.
They also considered Biden a supporter as he has strongly criticised the policies of the late Serb leader Slobodan Milosevic.
“He too for us has been very good as he and his sons have helped us in Kosovo’s liberation and the existing situation and he would continue to help us,” said Zhuja.
In the southeastern city of Ferizaj a street keeps the name of Biden’s late son.
It was named after Beau Biden who worked in Kosovo after the 1998-1999 war with the military forces and also with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He died in 2015 of brain cancer at 46.
Two memorials for Beau Biden have been created, one in front of the U.S. military Camp Bondsteel near Ferizaj, 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Pristina, and the other 30 kilometres (18 miles) to the east in Gjilan city.
AP video shot by Sylejman Kllokoqi
===========================================================
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/9db2ea358d26415f8ed928c28150c7e2
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in July 27, 2024, 12:04 pm.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
