We consider Kosovo to be an issue of very, very high priority and tremendous concern to
our government, Gelbard says

PRISHTINA, Jan 8 (KIC) - "Kosovo is an area of great concern to us, as are all the other
issues," said the Special Representative of the President Clinton and Secretary of State,
Ambassador Robert Gelbard in a news conference in Washington on Tuesday (source ISIS).
"We are tremendously concerned about it, first the developing violence which is taking
place in Kosovo; the lack of dialogue between Kosovar Albanian leaders and the federal
government, particularly including President Milosevic; the failure to implement the
education agreement, in which the Catholic Church officials from Sant' Egidio group,
Monsignor Vicente Paglia (ph), has been playing a key role," Gelbard said.
Ambassador Gelbard said he had spent a great deal of time talking with "Kosovar
Albanian leaders, both in FRY and here. Most recently we had some student leaders from
Kosova here, whom I knew already. I have visited Kosova before, and I expect to visit it
again. And we consider Kosovo to be an issue of very, very high priority and tremendous
concern to our government".
Speaking about the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, Ambassador Gelbard said "we
have made it very clear - I personally and the others in the American Government - on
repeated occasions that we firmly and totally oppose any resort to violence on this or any
other issue. The so-called Kosova Liberation Army is a group which needs to be extremely
careful in what it does and what it alleges it does. It is running the risk of being labeled a
"terrorist organization" by the United States government", he said.
Ambassador Gelbard explained that one of his previous responsibilities was running U.S.
counterterrorism policy and that he had been a target for terrorist attempts, in the past, on
several occasions.
"We do believe that it is incumbent upon Slobodan Milosevic, it is incumbent upon other
leaders of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, to begin a serious dialogue, a productive
dialogue, with Kosovar Albanian leadership," said Mr. Gelbard and added "if they don't,
this is only going to produce radicalization in Kosovo."
Ambassador Gelbard said the failure to implement the education agreement is a very
good example of this. "I think the university students have shown remarkable restraint and
great creativity in the peaceful demonstrations, which they have undertaken in recent
months. They have discussed these demonstrations with me frequently. I have told them,
very clearly, there is a long and fine tradition in the United States of peaceful
demonstrations. But I have warned them, in the strongest possible terms, to avoid any
recourse to violence, or they will immediately lose our support."
Ambassador Gelbard said he met with all Kosovar Albanian leaders he could find, starting
from President Rugova, Adem Demaci and others, journalists and individuals.
"We are urging all parties concerned to use restraint. But we want to try to assure that
there are ways found to assure that there will be greater dialogue as a way of bringing
people together, as opposed to using violence."
Mr. Gelbard spoke also about The United States government's economic assistance in
Kosova, "basically disaster relief assistance," and added, "we are considering other kinds
of assistance, too, to try to help democratic organization in the region."
Speaking of the readiness of Albanians for a dialogue Ambassador Gelbard said "if you
talk to 10 Albanians, you get 12 options. I think it's important that they begin to try to work
together to develop some common positions, common understanding, that will work
toward dialogue."
Mr. Gelbard explained that the United States maintains an official presence in Prishtina.
"Through that office and a U.S. diplomat, we maintain a very active dialogue on a
permanent basis with all the parties concerned in Kosovo," said Gelbard.
Ambassador pointed out that he has invited his colleagues in the Contact Group for a
meeting Thursday and that one of the things they will be discussing is Kosovo.