WORLD BRIEFING

Kosovo’s Albanian majority unveiled a statue of former President Clinton to thank him for saving them by stopping a wave of attacks by Serbian forces on ethnic Albanians a decade ago.

Clinton, who attended the unveiling, launched NATO airstrikes in 1999 to halt the killing of ethnic Albanians by Serbian troops in Kosovo, then a province of Serbia. Kosovo declared its independence last year.

Clinton’s speech was interrupted several times by Kosovo Albanians cheering his name and “U.S.A.,” and waving U.S., Albanian and Kosovo flags.

“I am profoundly grateful that I had a chance to be a part of ending the horrible things that were happening to you 10 years ago, giving you a chance to build a better future for yourself,” he told the crowd.

“I never expected . . . anywhere someone will make such a big statue of me,” Clinton said of the 10-foot work.