AFP: Kosovo's "provisional government" challenges Rugova to back KLA
Samir Hajdari
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TIRANA, May 6 (AFP) - Kosovo's self-declared "provisional government"
on Thursday called on moderate leader Ibrahim Rugova to publicly back
the armed struggle against Serbia and shed light on his activities in
Serbia since the start of hostilities.
In a statement reflected its fears that Rugova may have been
manipulated by Belgrade, the provisional government said he should
"clearly show his support for the struggle led by the Kosovo Liberation
Army (KLA)" and demand the withdrawal of "all" Serb forces from Kosovo.
Rugova surfaced in Rome on Wednesday, six weeks after NATO began its
air campaign against Yugoslavia, on a mission that remained unexplained
on Thursday but apparently has the backing of Belgrade.
An apostle of non-violence, he has freqently been at odds with the
KLA, one of whose paramount leaders, Hashim Thaci, is head of the
provisional government.
The communique also demanded that Rugova provide "a public
explanation on the circumstances surrounded his being taken hostage in
Pristina and Belgrade."
He should also "adhere to the commitments undertaken in the signature
of the Rambouillet (draft peace) accord on February 23 1999, which sets
down the means for the establishment and work of the provisional
government of Kosovo."
His first visit to the West since the start of NATO's offensive came
after widespread speculation that he was under de-facto house arrest in
the Kosovo provincial capital Pristina.
In Yugoslavia, he made conciliatory public statements as well as
appeals for NATO to end the air strikes, sparking speculation that he
was being manipulated, even drugged, by the Belgrade administration.
The provisional government in Kosovo was set up on April 2, but it is
a token organisation that has no visible power. Rugova and his party,
the Kosovo Democratic League (LDK) have never taken up their four seats
allotted.
Speaking in Rome earlier Thursday, Rugova said Serb forces must pull
out of Kosovo and "international forces, forces from NATO and other
countries" must be deployed into the province.
The ethnic Albanian delegation at the Kosovo peace talks in France
signed the Rambouillet blueprint, but the draft was rejected by the
Serbian side as a violation of national sovereignty.
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