The high Kosovo decoration was bestowed on Dole on June 12, on the fifth anniversary of the entry of NATO troops in Kosovo. He was handed the medal by Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova at a ceremony attended by senior representatives of Kosovo and international institutions.
Rugova thanked Dole for his contribution to Kosovo's freedom over the last 15 years, as well as the U.S. people for the fact that Kosovo today was free and asked to become independent.
Dole is on a three-day visit to Kosovo to discuss the current state of affairs and forthcoming parliamentary elections.