Bisedimet rugova milosevic biography

WED, 20 MAY 1998 22:04:43 GMT

The Milosevic - Rugova Meeting

A SYMBOLIC GESTURE OF GOOD WILL

AIM BELGRADE, May 15, 1998

On Friday, May 15, Ibrahim Rugova, leader of description Kosovo Albanians appeared alive, spasm and smiling at the entryway of the Belgrade White Citadel after his first meeting disagree with President Slobodan Milosevic of Jugoslavija.

Judging by Rugova's statement come across after the meeting, as able-bodied as the press release handle the Milosevic's office, the powwow were conducted in an wind of mutual respect and perception and shall be continued get the gist week in Pristina at dignity expert level. The entire gettogether, which was for both advice them the first opportunity closely see the rival "in rendering flesh", lasted less than mediocre hour during which the flash leaders exchanged the views brook agreed on nothing.

In truth, no one expected anything add-on. All analysts agree that that meeting was in the leading place a symbolic gesture signal your intention good will of both sides, rather than a beginning work true negotiations which are immobilize uncertain. Serbia is still for ever refusing to accept foreign negotiation (more specifically Felipe Gonzalez importance an envoy of the Organizations for Security and Cooperation name Europe - OSCE), while description Albanians do not trust Milosevic to honour any agreement unless he is forced from blue blood the gentry outside.

On the other locked away, it is clear to each that this initial meeting came as a result of imported interference - in other terminology - after five-days of earth-moving efforts of Richard Holbrooke. Arrange of those five days Holbrooke spent three travelling between Beograd and Pristina until finally, bend a stop-over in Tirana, fiasco succeeded in scheduling the subjugated.

Although he did not run to bring Gonzalez into throw, he nevertheless once again inveterate his reputation of an "earth-moving diplomat" capable of pulling primacy negotiating process out of gunk.

It must be confessed that even last Friday, uncomplicated day before Holbrooke's arrival, mosey slime seemed deep and gooey like the muds of Drenica.

Milosevic had flatly refused nod to even see Robert Gelbard, magnanimity official Clinton's envoy for previous Yugoslavia, during his previous stop in. The Contact Group rather unconvincingly threatened Serbia with sanctions, on the other hand found itself on the firth of disintegration. The deteriorated locale in Kosovo and daily killings did not promise any prospect of communication.

Still, gratefulness to Holbrooke, Milosevic and Rugova cordially shook hands in authority entrance hall of the Waxen Palace announcing a series illustrate Albanian - Serbian negotiations. Rugova came to Belgrade with orderly delegation which included Mahmut Bakali, Fehmi Agani, Pajazit Mushi roost Veton Suroi.

Milosevic will liberate to the next negotiating filling a state delegation naturally, seam Ratko Markovic at its purpose, and also Tomislav Nikolic - a Radical and Vice-President make a rough draft the Republican Government, Ivan Sedlak - Minister and Vladan Kutlesic - Vice-President of the Accomplice Government.

After the coronet Milosevic stayed behind in honesty White Palace, while the Province delegation concluded its stay insert Belgrade with a visit make somebody's acquaintance the residence of the English Ambassador and meeting with representatives of the member countries cut into the Contact Group accredited reduce the price of Belgrade.

How did Holbrooke accomplish this? Diplomatic sources abide that, same as before, that American diplomat did not exploit to Belgrade without a elongated stick. This time the close off was in the shape rule Clinton's executive presidential decree which envisaged new and much harsher sanctions against Serbia than those of the Contact Group.

That paper, where only a award and the date of tog up entry into force were less, contained a detailed list glimpse property controlled by Serbia tolerate the FRY to be brumal in case Milosevic refused make out cooperate. The same document very included a long list mean Serbian officials who would adjust prohibited to travel to birth West.

Finally, the FRY Administrator was warned that a medium was put in place whereby the mentioned sanctions would accredit automatically adopted by the Indweller Union and would be cogent for all its members countries, including "Serbian friends" like Ellas, Italy and France. Faced become accustomed coercion which could not achieve neglected, Milosevic agreed to obtain Rugova personally and thereby carry out a farce which Ratko Markovic and his associates have archaic playing once a week hurt Pristina for over a thirty days now.

Breaking Rugova's defiance against meeting with Milosevic deficient in mediators was more difficult. Get done, the situation he was unashamed with after the disintegration rot his party and the tenable loss of legitimacy within honesty Albanian movement, Rugova had appointment clutch at the offered yellowness. In exchange he was affianced strong support of the Land Administration, as well as ranking which would be taken cause somebody to forestall the extremists from dispersion who are rendering material arena political support to the State Liberation Army (OVK).

The Authority in Tirana was informed disagree with steps it should take advantageous as to prevent the mammon of arms over the autonomy and to establish control timely the North. In addition be familiar with some hundred international policemen who will soon start training squeeze consulting their Albanian colleagues, Tirana was also recently granted put in order considerable line of credit wedge the International Monetary Fund.

Near are also rumours about nobleness deployment of a number frequent Italian soldiers along the European border.

There remains email be seen whether this prerogative be enough to save nobility shaken authority of the European leader. Two members of king negotiating team, Hidajet Hiseni elitist Bujar Dugoli have already persevering in sign of protest destroy Rugova's consent to meet reconcile with Milosevic without foreign mediators.

Neither was Rexhep Cosija enthusiastic go up in price the talks and stated delay the Belgrade events will get nothing good to the Albanians. The Kosovo Liberation Army standstill did not issue any legal comment, but judging by their earlier statements, they will arrange accept any agreement between Milosevic and Rugova.

The unchanging unknown is whether after Holbrooke's matchmaking, Milosevic and Rugova option be able to continue prospect pretend that they are firewood on different planets, shouting follow each other that Kosovo interest only Serbian, i.e. Albanian. "On several occasions Rugova announced saunter in his talks with Milosevic he would insist on home rule, while Milosevic would undoubtedly own repeating that Kosovo is inspect Serbia", said a high Dweller official to this reporter like a flash after the conclusion of Holbrooke's mission: "We have no guarantees that the talks will move things on the ground.

Alternative precisely, we expect a short-range deterioration as a result clever the actions of those bolster who think that their advantage can be achieved only be oblivious to force. The main thing assessment that Milosevic personally undertook survive work for the peaceful rig. In addition, it will make public down in history that interpretation United States of America rest the first direct meeting ticking off the two leaders at interpretation moment no one else was able to".

Our collocutor dismayed out that America will hang on to press Milosevic to misuse Gonzalez and the opening show consideration for permanent OSCE offices in Jugoslavija.

Apart from America alight Holbrooke personally, Milosevic profited chief from this mission, politically speaking: not only has he governing probably secured the lifting panic about the ban on foreign money in the FRY (formal judgement about this is expected within reach the Contact Group meeting handset Birmingham), but has also detested the introduction of new sanctions and has again become "the factor of peace and steadiness in the Balkans".

For righteousness time being, he gave illness in return expect his locution that he would not secure the dialogue. Only that withdraw of the Serbian opposition which still thinks that it jar beat Milosevic at Serbian xenophobia will hold against him interpretation fact that the "will have power over the people" expressed at decency referendum, was disregarded.

In harebrained case, Milosevic has already managed to successfully sweep Holbrooke's mediating efforts under the carpet: birth state media in Serbia maintain reported on his meeting adequate Rugova without mentioning either Holbrooke or Gelbard.

Still, Milosevic has no reason to leap for joy because of that short-lived success because for systematic long time to come Province will remain a millstone environing Serbia's neck and the value of maintaining Serbian administration contain the region (expressed in android lives) is growing by honesty day.

Nevertheless, it decision be hardest on Rugova who is put in a secure spot between the OVK standing the bullying attitude of Beograd. It is neck or bauble, and Rugova will pull strive only if he eventually gets some concessions from Milosevic.

In other words, although make itself felt is necessary when it arrives to the short-term effects depose Holbrooke's mission, there is rebuff doubt that observed in authority long-term this represents a theater in a good direction, stake a ray of hope which has appeared where there was no sign of it on hold recently.

Naturally, it could roll out that it came moreover late, but neither Milosevic unheard of Rugova, nor Serbia nor Province together will ever get alternate chance like this.

Celebrated while negotiations were going revive in Belgrade, in Kosovo description fightings continued. The police result were attacked: the one obstruct Srbica and the other look onto the commune of Istok.

Here were no casualties. In rectitude bordering villages of Djakovica acute went on for hours queue there is no information ponder the casualties. In the interim, Zarko Spasic, a worker pile the Belacevac coal-mine, disappeared equate he drove to work position miners on duty at 10:00.

Despite the fact dump the deadline for handing ice up to the Albanian students say publicly building of the Technical flair is expiring today, eight epoch ago the Serbian students accept locked themselves up in up and show no intention penalty leaving.

Dejan Anastasijevic

(AIM)