PRESS CONFERENCE WITH KOSOVO ALBANIAN LEADER RUGOVA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 10, 1999 (VIS) - The Kosovo Albanian leader, Ibrahim Rugova, who has been in Rome since last Wednesday, today gave a press conference in the Holy See Press Office.

Speaking in French, Rugova expressed his gratitude for the Pope's having received him only a few hours after his return from Bucharest, considering the fact that the audience had been scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday. He also thanked the Holy Father for the efforts he is making towards peace in the Balkans and, especially, for the joint declaration signed last Saturday in Bucharest with His Beatitude Teoctist, Romanian Orthodox Patriarch.

The Kosovo Albanian leader confirmed that "Belgrade must accept the presence of an international force," and emphasized that "although the Rambouillet Agreement was a fine document, nonetheless the independence of Kosovo would be preferable."

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