HOLY FATHER RECEIVES KOSOVO ALBANIAN LEADER RUGOVA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 10, 1999 (VIS) - Kosovo Albanian leader, Ibrahim Rugova, was received this morning by Pope John Paul, according to Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, who released a statement shortly after 12 noon.

The statement added: "Mr. Rugova, who had asked to meet the Pope, was accompanied by his family. John Paul II wished to take this occasion to bless him and his family, who have suffered so much recently. In the course of the meeting, the Holy Father told Mr. Rugova that he hoped that his contribution and his efforts to reach a just peace in Kosovo as soon as possible might be immediately successful."

OP;POPE; RUGOVA;...;NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;19990510;Word: 120;