PRESS CONFERENCE, SPONSORED BY UNITED STATES, ON KOSOVO

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE, SPONSORED BY UNITED STATES, ON KOSOVO

The United Nations and the international community should provide greater support to Kosovo in its conflict with Serbia, said the leader of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova, during a press conference this afternoon at Headquarters.

"The situation on the ground in Kosovo was very dangerous and difficult", said Mr. Rugova, speaking through an interpreter. Serb police and military actions had continued, leaving many people killed. In a meeting today with Secretary-General Kofi Annan, he had asked for more support and for preventive measures to be taken to avoid further bloodshed.

According to a statement made available by Mr. Rugova during the press conference, Kosovo, whose population is 90 per cent ethnic Albanian, was one of the eight federal units of the former Yugoslavia before it was annexed by Serbia. It stated that the Serbian government in Belgrade had denied basic human and civil rights to the 1.9 million Kosovars, and Mr. Rugova had lead peaceful demonstrations to protest Serbian actions. Since 1989, he has been the chairman of a political party committed to the establishment of democracy in Kosovo, the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), the statement added.

The political independence of Kosovo was the best solution to the conflict with Serbia, he said. Independence would help bring stability to the entire region, including Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia. An international civil adminstration or protectorate could be set up as an interim stage to Kosovo independence.

Last week, he met with United States President William Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Mr. Rugova said. He said the United States had initiated a plan for peace negotiations between the parties, and there should be international support for that initiative. In order for negotiations to be successful, it was important that police and military operations stopped.

A correspondent asked what type of support Mr. Rugova had requested from the Secretary-General and what had been the Secretary-General's response. The response was positive, Mr. Rugova said. There was great need for humanitarian assistance in Kosovo, and the United Nations would try to set up a more substantial humanitarian presence there. He said he had urged the Secretary- General to open a human rights office in Kosovo.

What did you expect to achieve from the negotiations with Belgrade? a correspondent asked. Mr. Rugova said that he worked to see independence for Kosovo realized. Kosovo was part of the former Yugoslavia, which had fallen apart, and independence of Kosovo would bring stability to the region.

There had been reports that 1,300 people had crossed over from Kosovo to northern Albania in the last few days, a correspondent said. What was his assessment of the refugee situation and had that come up in discussions with United States officials? he was further asked. Mr. Rugova said incidents over the past few months had produced thousands of dislocated people. He had been pressing for action to prevent an eventual massacre and massive ethnic cleansing.

What was the real motivation behind Serbia's wish to prevent Kosovo's independence? a correspondent asked. He responded that the main motivation behind Serbia's actions was economic interests. Kosovo had great economic potential, especially in electricity and energy generating facilities. Historical issues were also a factor.

He was asked if the United States had given him any assurances that it would protect Kosovo from the violent removal of ethnic Albanians. Mr. Rugova responded that there would be comprehensive support from the United States for Kosovo, and President Clinton did say that "another Bosnia would not be tolerated".

Did you envision a return of Serbs to Kosovo to recreate the multi- ethnic composition that the region once had? a correspondent asked. He said Kosovo continued to be a multi-ethnic society and multi-ethnic country. In the case of independence, local Serbs in Kosovo would not be called a minority group, and they would enjoy all possible rights. Currently in the Kosovo Parliament, 40 seats were reserved for ethnic Serbs. Over the past few years, some 20,000 Serb refugees from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and elsewhere had been accommodated in Kosovo. It would be an open and free country for everyone regardless of ethnic or religious background.

How satisfied were you by the response of the international community to the situation in Kosovo? a correspondent asked. Mr. Rugova said he urged the international community to do more so that the massacres there were brought to an end.

What measures would you like to see from the international community? he was asked. There should be some kind of concrete international presence there, he said.

How could the United Nations actions in the region be enhanced to meet Kosovo's needs? a correspondent asked. Mr. Rugova said the situation in Kosovo was a regional security issue, and the United Nations efforts should be focused on saving States in that region from violence.

With no apparent international support for Kosovo independence, how realistic was it to expect self-determination in Kosovo? a correspondent asked. There was some understanding for Kosovo's aspirations for independence, Mr. Rugova said. It should be remembered that he was working for independence

United States Press Conference - 3 - 1 June 1998

with the support of friends and with friends. He added that Kosovo had not urged for a reunification with Albania, which would cause another set of problems.

A correspondent said that current talks between Serb and Kosovo leaders were taking place without third-party mediation. Did you get any guarantees from the United States or the United Nations that there would be a third-party mediating talks in the future? Mr. Rugova said there was some kind of mediation on the part of the United States. How the talks would be handled in the future would depend on the process itself. It was critical that the United States strongly supported the process.

* *** *