Saturday, June 26, 1999
Refugee family makes way to Tristate
Weary travelers warmly welcomed
BY PERRY BROTHERS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Five jet-lagged ethnic Albanians joined the Tristate's growing Yugoslav refugee population Friday.
As the Emini family wearily made its way from the plane at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, about a dozen Cincinnatians, plus more than 60 passersby, crowded at gate B2 to welcome the family.
Kimete Emini, 52, wiped away tears as her husband, Sabit, described their escape from their small Kosovar village, when Serbian soldiers told them on May 10 they had 30 minutes to pack and leave. They spent a month living in the mountains with their three children, two sons and a daughter ages 7 to 17, before walking to a refugee camp in Macedonia.
“I have no words to describe all of this. It was such a warm welcome,” Mr. Emini said, through translator, to a throng of reporters and camera crews gathered at the airport.
Many of the Eminis' relatives joined the Kosovo Liberation Army and many others were scattered to refugee camps in surrounding countries. The Eminis' home was destroyed, they said through a translator, Albana Canollari, 18, an exchange student from Albania staying in Finneytown.
The family's arrival was coordinated by Catholic Social Services, said Brigid McLinden-Swartz, a spokeswoman for the organization. The Eminis will stay with a family in the Tristate, but the host family's name and location were not released.
Mr. Emini said he hopes for complete independence for Kosovo, but will not wish to return for a while.
“I would love to see my country again,” he said.
Fahriye, Besim and Driton Destani — the first family of ethnic Albanian Kosovar refugees to arrive in Cincinnati — also greeted the Eminis at the airport.
Tornado stole a Cincinnati treasure: trees
Officers in shooting return to street duty
Three kids nearly drown
Rail killings suspect was held and let go
Powerball fever drives Ohioans across the river
Refugee family makes way to Tristate
Miami U tuition rise may be 6%
Plane crash spares pilot's life
Police dogs, trainers compete
Portman: Fix Social Security
Alexander: Look me over
Chevie Kehoe gets life for 3 murders
Classic cars strut proudly
Closed-door meeting on Shirey upheld
Man trumps township in Wild West grave saga
New park gives home to skaters
Borge at 90: still deft, charming, hilarious
Fixer-uppers: Consider software before trip to hardware store
GET TO IT
Cancer survivors gather for ice cream and joy
Cinergy truck hit by train in Butler
Court upholds Cincinnati noise law
Day care rated as deficient in Ky.
Driver shot through window
Felled by stroke, young swimmer fights to recover
GOP gloats on getting Democrats
Mayor vs. council disputes derail Ludlow budget
Search for police chief postponed
Silverton pool opening delayed
TRISTATE DIGEST
Turfway head knows horses
Wyoming celebrates 125 years
