Three weeks ago, the first wave of ethnic Albanians left crowded camps in Macedonia to find temporary refuge at the Army reserves training center at Fort Dix in New Jersey.

Kosovar refugee Bekim Qela shared his experience live from Fort Dix. Qela was a student at the University in the city of Gjakove before he was forced to leave Kosovo and was separated from his family. After he arrived in the United States, Qela was reunited with a cousin who was working as an interpreter at the base.

Editor's Note: Administration officials, who helped us reach Qela at Fort Dix, did not permit him to answer certain questions asked by the audience.

Read the transcript below.

Washingtonpost.com: Good afternoon and welcome to today's discussion. We already have many questions so let's get started.

Bekim, could you take a minute to tell us what your life was like before the war started. What were you studying? How did you spend your time?

Bekim Qela: I was studying Math in the University. I was in Pristina when the war started and I was separated from my family. I'm from a town called Gjakove. It's a great chance for me to come and study here. I was in a theater for my town. I was working in a professional theater. I made two movies and I brought the video tapes here to show. There are a lot of Albanians here so they can watch the top.

Washington DC: When were you and your friends first aware that the Serbians were coming to evict you, and what did you do about it?

Bekim Qela: When we were in our apartment in Pristina. It was April Fool's Day and it was for me like the biggest joke in the world. The police came and broke down the door. We were seven students there. They said get to the world and asked, "Do you have any money." We didn't have money and they beat two of my friends. First, they beat my relative and then they beat another guy. After that they took us to the train station and there were a lot of policemen in the streets. And when they came to our apartment there were police in black masks. Two or three, I'm not sure. There were a lot of people at the police station. A lot of people, maybe 20,000 and there were children crying. We waited 6 days at the border in the rain and they wouldn't let us cross because we were too young and no family. We took a baby from someone and pretended like we were a family. We were at Stankovac for one month. We couldn't take a shower. I was afraid because we were living at the camp and I thought what if the Serbian army bombed the camp. I started to work with the Israel army's hospital.

Rosslyn, VA: Did you decide to come to the Ft. Dix refugee site, or are these things decided for you by NATO or the UN?

Bekim Qela: In Stankovac, the people called the place the golden gate because it was the only place where people go everywhere around Europe and around America. We found our name and we were told a few days later to come here. We came here because I have an aunt and the daughter of my uncle. When we came they put us in a basketball court and I saw her after seven years. The first day was full of surprises and after that I met two of my friends. And we pray now to go to New York City because she lives in Staten Island and we want to go there.

Hackensack, new jersey: bekim, hi! I met you in Stankovac 1 in the Israeli area, where you were volunteering to entertain children. how are the kids coping with living in fort dix? do they have enough to keep them occupied? are they getting a chance to read and make pictures?

Bekim Qela: Yes, it was a great thing for us. We want to thank all of the Israeli staff, it was a community movement. We started at 9 a.m., they paint something or play the games or we tell a story until 1 p.m. After that we had a lunch break from 1:00 until 3 p.m. and then tell story and we had a fashion show. We had funny gifts to make costumes. Their mission was to see the smiles in the kids, because they've suffered too much. We are playing here too at Ft. Dix. But, the most important thing we need here is music. We play with the kids but it's getting boring.

Laurel, Maryland: Growing up in Kosovo, I would imagine that you must have known Serbian families, no? What was your relationship with them? How did your family or other ethnic Albanians view them? Has your perception been changed by this war?

Bekim Qela: When we were in Kosovo--this thing started 10 years ago when Slobodan Milosevic came-- we knew Serbian families, but we had to stop contact with them. The Albanians didn't want to see you talking to the Serbians and the Serbians didn't talk to Albanians. In the last three years, we did not have contact with them. No one did. I think it was a mistake of Milosevic and the KLA. Milosevic formed the KLA because he made the people suffer and they had to do something to survive and to protect themselves. He brought us to this point.

Boston, MA: Are your needs being met at Fort Dix. If not what else should be done there?

Bekim Qela: It's like heaven here because we were living in tents, we have our own building and room. The only thing we need is music for the kids.

Trieste, Italy: As Albanian from Albania I was extremely emotional when I heard about the indictment of Milosevic.What is your opinion on that after all the sufferings that that person has caused to you and your people?
Greetings from Fjorent to all Kosovars

Bekim Qela: Today a soldier told me about it. I didn't watch the news. I'm glad to hear it after what he has done. He deserves it. I'm happy. We are all happy for this. I would like to thank Ms. Arbour. She's doing a great job.

Washington DC: Welcome to the United States!
What message would you give to those who remain in dire circumstances such as you've been through? I ask because your experience must have taught you strength and courage, which we all need more of.

Bekim Qela: I think the war brought a good thing too. For the first time in my life, I learned anything is possible. I never dreamed I would become a refugee. After this thing, it gave me courage. For me and for my friends we know that everything is possible. If we want something, we know it's possible, even if it's to go to the moon, if we work hard for it. I hope that someday we will get back to our homeland. Because every where you go you will miss your home.

Takoma Park, MD.: What are three things the U.S. should do to help the refugees still in Macedonia?

Bekim Qela: First, take those people out of nowhere and put them in a safe place. The second thing is that they need take a shower, because it was the same for me. I didn't take a shower for a week and when I came to Ft. Dix that was the most important thing, was to take a shower. The third thing is to thank everyone who helped us.

Hackensack, nj (again): bekim, it sounds like you would like to move to new york city. does that mean you do not want to return to kosovo? also, do you get a sense from other refugees that many do not want to return, but would rather stay in the U.S.?

Bekim Qela: Now, most of the people here at Ft. Dix first need to relax because they've suffered so much. They'll stay here for now because they have nowhere to live. They want to stay here to get the smell of the freedom because this is a free country. I will stay here and I will study and work and I will do my best to finish the acting school. I'm waiting to get out from this place and that is the most important thing for me for now.

washingtonpost.com: We have about 15 minutes remaining in our discussion with Bekim Qela. Continue to submit questions using the link below.

Baltimore, Maryland: Bekim, I'm curious about your thoughts on the ability of Serbs and ethnic Albanians to live together peacefully in Kosovo. Can it be accomplished or is it just a pipe dream?

Bekim Qela: I don't think so. After all this has happened, I don't know. Our people never were nationalist people. We always accepted it, but now it's enough. It's hard for us to trust the Serbian people. They are watching here on the Internet and the news--all the people who have been massacred and I don't think they want to live there after that.

Arlington, VA: What sorts of things do they have for adults to do at the base? Do you have books, magazines and newspapers to read? Movies to watch?

Bekim Qela: They bring us the newspaper every day. We get magazines. We can watch movies, they have a T.V. and videotapes.

Fairfax, VA: Your English is very good. Did you study English in school?

Bekim Qela: Yes, I was studying English in school. But I learned a lot from movies too. When we came to Ft. Dix, I got from the bus and I told them "Hello, my name is Gump, Forrest Gump" and they thought I was a translator.

Tampa,FL: How do you and others back home feel about NATO intervention?

Bekim Qela: I think that they know they're job and what they're doing. I think now is the NATO troops in Kosovo. I know it will take a long time, but I think they are doing the right thing. They have been around more than 50 years and they're doing a great job.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Have you heard or talked to your family since you came to the United States? Do you have the ability to communicate by phone?

Bekim Qela: No. Not yet. We don't know where they are. We don't know if they're still alive. So, we wait and we hope and if something happened to them, we've prepared ourselves. Like I told you, anything is possible, so we go on.

Washington, D.C. : How's the food?

Bekim Qela: It's okay. We were there eating bread and cream cheese. Nothing else. But we got here and it was good.

Arlington, VA: Can you tell us more about the KLA? Do you think most Kosovars support them?

Bekim Qela: All people support the KLA I think. It's our army for us it's important.

Washington, D.C.: Do you think you will want to go back to Kosovo, assuming NATO is successful in getting the Serbs out. Under what conditions do you think that most of your fellow countrymen would go back?

Bekim Qela: It's going to take a long time, I think. Maybe five years, because they have mine fields, they put bombs in cars. They must check every step in Kosovo. They must rebuild our houses and it's going to take a long time.

Virginia Beach, VA: Describe the other Kosovars with you at Ft. Dix. How many men, women, kids?

Bekim Qela: Most of them are kids. We have men and women too. I don't know the number. When we went in the dining hall, I saw a lot of kids.

Bekim Qela: The show must go on. I would like to thank the American people. I hope will get back home. I hope someday I will meet Tom Hanks too.

washingtonpost.com: Well, that's all the time we have. Thanks to all who participated and thanks to Bekim Qela, who joined us from Fort Dix, New Jersey.

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