Rugova's InterviewKosovo Albanian party leader Rugova to seek election as president - newspaper
Source: 'Der Spiegel' web site, Hamburg, in German 9 Aug 99
Kosovo Albanian party leader Ibrahim Rugova has said that he is still president of Kosovo and will insist on direct election as president next year, a German magazine reported. "I reject an appointment by parliament," Rugova said. He has called himself president of Kosovo since 1992, when he won elections held unofficially by the Kosovo Albanians; his re-election in March 1998 is disputed by rival Kosovo Albanian leader Hashim Thaci. The following is the text of an interview with Rugova by Renate Flottau, as published by the German news magazine 'Der Spiegel' web site on 9th August:
[Flottau] Mr Rugova, Kosovo is an international protectorate for a transition period. What will follow afterward?
[Rugova] This is the preliminary stage of independence. In three years at the latest, we will hold a referendum. Afterwards, the Serbs can only accept our independence.
[Q] The Serbian opposition wants to convince the people that Kosovo will continue to be part of Serbia when Milosevic is deprived of his power.
[A] No chance. After this war and the massacres by their special police and paramilitary troops, the Serbs no longer have any rights over Kosovo. Not a single Yugoslav soldier will enter Kosovo. Only local Serbs will be integrated within the future Kosovo police. We accept a democratic Serbia at best as a friendly neighbouring state. If Milosevic had signed the Rambouillet agreement, the situation would be far more advantageous for Belgrade.
[Q] The UCK [rebel Kosovo Liberation Army] continues to resist its dissolution and disarmament.
[A] The UCK endorsed demilitarization itself. Thus, it must adhere to it. However, some of its leaders obviously have political and military ambitions. The war has come to an end and the euphoria has cooled off. So far, our people have been seeking freedom, now it is a matter of shaping the future.
[Q] Can you manage without an army in the long run?
[A] By no means. However, in addition to UCK fighters, it should also include other young men of Kosovo who are trained militarily until the withdrawal of the international protection troops of Kfor [Kosovo Force]. NATO has assured us that it will be our protective power until then.
[Q] [Self-declared] Prime Minister and UCK [political] leader Hashim Thaci, who is favoured by the United States, is not recognized by you. Do you fear him as a rival for the office of president?
[A] Thaci has formed a government without our approval. This was only planned if the Rambouillet agreements had been signed. Until the elections we - that is, the Democratic League - will support the Bukoshi government [unofficial government-in-exile of Bujar Bukoshi].
However, both governments and a broad spectrum of all parties will cooperate with the international administration. I will continue to be the president of Kosovo and insist on a direct election shortly before or after the elections. I reject an appointment by parliament.[Q] Until the elections, presumably in the spring, the international civilian administration alone has the decision-making authority. What will happen afterwards?
[A] Then the powers will go over to the elected government of Kosovo. We will have our own laws, a judiciary, administration and foreign policy - completely independently of Belgrade. The borders with Macedonia and Albania will be controlled by Kfor, not by the Yugoslav Army, also in the future.
[Q] Thus, there would no longer be an obstacle to unification with Albania.
[A] The people would have to decide on that in a referendum at a later date. However, we will very quickly form economic and customs unions with other states after consultations with the international community. We will quickly start major projects like the Trepca mine and the power-supply and iron-nickel industries and prove to the world that we can also act independently and survive as a small state.
[Q] You always promised protection to the Serbs in Kosovo if the Albanians administered the province again independently. Now the Serbs are being brutally expelled and their apartments are being looted or destroyed. How do you want to prevent such attacks?
[A] These are retaliatory actions by some individuals or gangs who are using the chance provided by a still unclear situation. However, I guarantee that no-one will take the Serbs' apartments or houses. As soon as the situation is calm and the international police have arrived, we will clear up questions of ownership that are still unresolved. Emigration must be stopped. All Serbs can return and will be protected by us. We also have nothing against a vice-president or deputy prime minister provided by them. However, the courts will, of course, also investigate which of them committed crimes during the war.
[Q] Milosevic is indicted as a war criminal. Do you also think that he is mainly responsible for the massacres and expulsions in Kosovo?
[A] The orders were given by the centre. The objective was the definite expulsion of the Albanians. This could only be prevented by NATO's intervention. However, I am afraid that it will not be so easy to overthrow Milosevic.
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