US President Bill Clinton will visit the Yugoslav province of Kosovo during his coming tour of Europe after a decision to shorten his visit to Greece because of security concerns, US media reported. The Washington Post Thursday quoted administration officials as saying that Clinton will likely visit the US military base in southern-central Kosovo known as Camp Bondsteel, a site surrounded by barbed wire, concrete barriers and guard towers. The Yugoslav government is expected to object to the visit. A Yugoslav diplomat at the United Nations said, "Kosovo is not an independent state that anybody can just jump in." An Associated Press report said Clinton has wanted to visit Kosovo ever since the US-led NATO ended its bombing on Yugoslavia in June. Officials said the Kosovo visit probably would be limited to a matter of hours at the end of his European trip, which begins Sunday. Clinton had originally planned to visit Greece this weekend and stay there for two nights, but had to delay and shorten it at the recommendation of the Greek government due to security reasons. According to the new itinerary, Clinton will leave Sunday and visit Greece on November 18 and 19. The trip will bring the president to Bulgaria, Italy and Turkey, where he will attend a summit of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe. He is expected to return to Washington on November 23. |