July 16, 1999
Web posted at: 6:47 p.m. EDT (2247 GMT)

From Correspondent David Ensor

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. officials say Secretary of State Madeleine Albright decided not to make a stop in Albania following her June 11 visit to Macedonia because of security concerns, including indications that followers of suspected terrorist leader Osama bin Laden were "active" there.

An official said the "additional steps" required to counter the threat to Albright's security could not have been justified for a short visit.

A similar decision was made to cancel Defense Secretary William Cohen's planned visit to Albania on Tuesday. Pentagon officials told CNN that Cohen's visit was canceled in part because of information suggesting bin Laden supporters were looking for targets to attack in Albania.

Officials noted there is a great deal of "lawlessness" in Albania, and the Albanian government is not able to guarantee the security of high-ranking visitors.

Officials said they have no evidence that Cohen or Albright were seen as targets by bin Laden's associates.

U.S. officials have accused bin Laden, a Saudi businessman living in Afghanistan, of masterminding the bombings of the U.S. embassies in Africa last year.

"We consider Osama bin Laden a worldwide threat, and we are taking, and have been taking, the necessary measures to deal with it," Albright said.

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