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June 10, 1999
Web posted at: 12:04 p.m. EDT (1604 GMT)

In this story: 'The Kosovars will go home' U.S. peacekeepers move into Macedonia 7,000 U.S. Army troops RELATED STORIES, SITES

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In an Oval Office address to the American people Thursday night, President Clinton said the United States and its NATO allies "achieved a victory for a safer world" in Kosovo.

"For the first time in 79 days, the skies over Yugoslavia are silent," Clinton said. "An unnecessary conflict has been brought to a just and honorable conclusion."

Clinton said now the job is to prosecute war criminals, rebuild war damage and return refugees. He said NATO's victory brings new hope that the world will not look the other way when people are persecuted for their race or faith.

Clinton also thanked the men and women of the U.S. armed forces for their service, and thanked the American people for "standing up to ethnic cleansing" and helping the Kosovar refugees.

Earlier Thursday, Clinton, who was spending part of his day conferring by telephone with world leaders, spoke to reporters shortly after NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana formally announced in Brussels that bombing had been suspended.

Ethnic Albanians living in America may be able to go home soon

"The Kosovars have been victims of terrible atrocities," Clinton said in the White House briefing room. "Their only hope was that the world would not turn away in the face of ethnic cleaning and killing (and) that the world would take a stand."

"We did, for 78 days," the president said. "Because we did, the Kosovars will go home."

The president said the next 90 days would be critical in returning refugees, beginning reconstruction and clearing Kosovo of land mines.

In addition to praising the leaders of the 19-member NATO alliance for standing together during the crisis, Clinton singled out Russia for its diplomatic efforts in helping to work toward a settlement.

Clinton also said American forces "performed superbly, risking their lives." He said the Serbs' apparent capitulation was a vindication of U.S. efforts.

Clinton said he was very grateful that the loss of life was limited to two air training accidents.

News Highlights: Gallery: The conflict in review News story archive Yugoslavia's Future: What's next for Yugoslavia Map: Who controls what The Peace Settlement: A guide to the peace plan Map: Serb troop withdrawal The Military Campaign: Strike damage assessment Atlas: NATO and the Balkans Background: Timeline: Trouble in the Balkans A who's who of key players Map: Kosovo and its neighbors A history of the KLA

White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said the president would travel to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on Friday to visit the base where B-2 bombers used in the NATO air war are operated and maintained.

Clinton, responding to a question, sidestepped whether there could be peace with Slobodan Milosevic still in power in Yugoslavia.

"I would put it in a different way," the president said. He noted the progress of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic after the fall of communism and said: "I don't see how Serbia can participate in that unless they have leadership committed to ... genuine human rights."

At dawn Thursday, about 2,000 Marines aboard amphibious vessels in the Aegean Sea came ashore in Litohoro, Greece, before heading overland to Macedonia to spearhead the entry of U.S. peacekeeping forces into Kosovo.

"We're ready to go and we're all excited," Sgt. Steve Campbell told CNN after arriving on the beach.

Military officials said the operation was several hours ahead of schedule.

Some of the Marines and equipment had reached a staging area called Camp Able Sentry by Thursday afternoon.

The camp, about 175 miles north of where the Marines came ashore in Greece, is a makeshift U.S. military air base near the Macedonian capital of Skopje.

Cpl. Brian Koval, 24 is one of the Marines who came ashore in Greece Thursday

"It should take us about another day, 24 hours or so, and we should have everybody into place," Marine Lt. Col. Paul Brygider told CNN. "The Greek government has been very supportive of what we are doing."

Also on Thursday:

• About 200 Army troops began flying to Macedonia from U.S. bases in Germany.
  
  
• Armored weapons and 1,700 Army troops, part of an Apache attack helicopter force that has not seen combat in Kosovo, were being flown from Albania into Macedonia to assemble at Camp Able Sentry.

The initial contingent of U.S. peacekeepers, which will enter Kosovo after the first British forces go in, will have tanks and other heavy armor, attack helicopters and other weaponry.

The Pentagon says it probably would take at least 24 hours after Yugoslav troops begin withdrawing before the lead elements of the U.S. peacekeeping force could enter Kosovo.

Eventually, the United States will patrol a section of southeastern Kosovo with a force of 7,000 Army troops.

Apache helicopter

That force will comprise the main American contribution to the 50,000-strong NATO-commanded peacekeeping force, dubbed KFOR, to move into Kosovo as Yugoslav troops depart.

The long-term U.S. contingent, dubbed Task Force Falcon, will be made up of forces stationed at U.S. bases in Germany. It will replace Marine and Army troops sent in to secure the province in the first days and weeks of peace.

It will take about 30 days to move the 7,000 soldiers and equipment from Germany, the Pentagon says.

The U.S. contingent will be commanded by Army Brig. Gen. John Craddock, chief of staff of the Army's 5th Corps in Germany. A British general will be the overall NATO commander in charge.

Correspondents John King, Tom Mintier, Jeff Flock and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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