Rugova Calls for Continuation of NATO airstrikes

Nathan Newman nathan.newman at yale.edu
Mon May 17 15:38:03 PDT 1999


A number of people have invoked Rugova's past history of nonviolence, in opposition to the illegitimate KLA, to argue that the Kosovar leadership was "really" against NATO's actions; Rugova's "meeting" with Milosevic was even sited by some as supporting this argument.

Now, with Rugova safely out from under Milosevic's power, he has called for the NATO strikes to continue until Milosevic agrees to withdraw his troops and allow an outside military presence in Kosovo - exactly NATO's demands.

If the broad leadership of the Kosovar people, from KLA military types to Rugova, all argue that the military strikes are in the interest of their people, I wonder how others can argue in their name for its uselessness?

The Kosovar leadership may be wrong of course, but it seems rather self-assuming for others to speak for their interests.

-- Nathan Newman =====================================

Newsday May 17, 99 AP http://www.newsday.com/ap/rnmpin09.htm

Rugova Says Accord Was Under Duress

BONN, Germany (AP) -- Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova says he was acting under duress when he backed Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's call for an end to NATO airstrikes last month, according to an interview published Monday.

``What I signed in Belgrade has no meaning,'' Rugova was quoted as telling the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. He told the newspaper he cooperated with Milosevic in an attempt to ``gain some freedom for my family.''

Rugova and his family were under what Western officials described as house arrest in Kosovo since NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia began March 24. They were allowed to leave May 5, going first to Rome and settling last week in Bonn.

Asked whether he and his family were captives or hostages of Milosevic, Rugova said, ``You can call it that,'' according to the newspaper.

Rugova has been president of the self-declared Kosovo Republic since 1992 and a campaigner for nonviolent resistance to Serb rule.

Serb television used the pictures of Rugova shaking hands with Milosevic and reportedly signing the agreement in an effort to show that Yugoslavia was ready to negotiate with the allies about Kosovo.

In the interview, Rugova called for NATO to continue its assault until Milosevic gives in, saying the goal is the return of Kosovo refugees.

``For that to happen, the Serb troops must withdraw, then an international security presence must be set up, and then NATO's bombardments can stop,'' he was quoted as saying.

Rugova said he would visit refugee camps in Macedonia, possibly this week. He denied the legitimacy of a rival exile government declared in Albania last month by Kosovo Liberation Army rebels, according to the newspaper.

Rugova also said he would soon call a meeting of leading Kosovo representatives in Bonn -- that would also include the KLA -- to work out a common political platform.

AP-NY-05-17-99 1629EDT



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