TIRANA, July 3 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton on Monday met 12 children and men from Kosovo who were named after him in gratitude for his role in stopping the 1998-99 Kosovo War.
Clinton, who served as president from 1993 to 2001, is regarded as a hero in Kosovo and Albania for launching NATO air strikes against Serbia's forces in 1999.
The strikes halted the war and allowed nearly 1 million Albanian refugees in Kosovo to return to their homes.
Others who spoke at the ceremony included Klinton Gashi, Klinton Bajgora and Klinton Ferizi.
Clinton also met three girls who were named after his wife, Hillary Clinton, who served as U.S. secretary of state under former President Barack Obama.
Persons:
Bill Clinton, Clinton, Klinton Berisha, Klinton, Ferizi, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Hillary Alidema, Fatos Bytyci, Matthew Lewis
Organizations:
Former U.S, Monday, NATO, Goga, Thomson
Locations:
TIRANA, Former, Kosovo, Albania, Tirana, Balkans, Serbia, Washington