SWITZERLAND: U.S. ENVOY TO KOSOVO SAYS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS HELD ITS FIRST MEETING WITH KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY LEADERS

Record ID: 337666

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: U.S. ENVOY TO KOSOVO SAYS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS HELD ITS FIRST MEETING WITH KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY LEADERS
  • Date: 28th June 1998
  • Summary: CRANS MONTANA, SWITZERLAND (JUNE 28, 1998) (RTV) 1. GV PAN CRANS MONTANA RESORT SEEN FROM LAKE/ SCU FLAGS 0.16 2. SLV INTERIOR CONFERENCE VENUE 0.22 3. SCU UNITED STATES ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE WALKING IN LOBBY 0.30 4. MV PLAIN CLOTHES SECURITY MEN STANDING BY OFFICE DOOR ZOOM IN SCU HOLBROOKE IN OFFICE SPEAKING ON PHONE SEEN THROUGH GLASS DOOR 0.40 5. MV HOLBROOKE ARRIVING TO BRIEF THE PRESS (2 SHOTS) 0.56 6. SCU HOLBROOKE SPEAKING AFTER NEWS CONFERENCE TO REUTERS, SAYING "YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORT AND ITS NOT INACCURATE, ABOUT AMBASSADOR GELBARD HAVING CONTACTS IN WESTERN EUROPE (WITH KLA) - I CANT DISCUSS ANY OF THE DETAILS, I REFER YOU TO WASHINGTON, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE TWO CRITICAL POINTS. IN NO WAY DOES THIS REDUCE OUR FULL SUPPORT FOR MR RUGOVA, WHO IS LEADER COMMITTED TO PEACEFUL NON VIOLENT SOLUTION. THIS IS U.S. AND CONTACT GROUP POSITION AND WILL NOT CHANGE. NUMBER TWO - THE CONTACTS WERE DESIGNED TO FIND OUT IF THE PEOPLE WITH WHOM THE AMERICAN OFFICIALS MET WERE IN FACT THE PEOPLE WHO ABILITY TO INFLUENCE AND CONTROL PEOPLE WITH WEAPONS, IF THEY DO HAVE INFLUENCE OVER THOSE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO, THEN THEY HAVE LEGITIMATE ROLE IN PROCESS, BUT IN NO WAY SHOULD THESE CONTACTS BE READ AS UNDERMINING RUGOVA." (ENGLISH) SCU REPORTER ASKING QUESTION ABOUT PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO KOSOVO ISSUE INCLUDING THE KLA (ENGLISH) SCU HOLBROOKE ANSWERING SAYING "WHO SITS AT THE TABLE FOR KOSOVO ALBANIANS MUST BE RESOLVED BY PRIVATE CONTACTS, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO GELBARD MET NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THEY HAVE INFLUENCE AND ABILITY TO INFLUENCE MILITARY FORCES FIGHTING IN KOSOVO ON THE ALBANIAN SIDE." (ENGLISH) 2.53 7. MV HOLBROOKE IN LOBBY 3.00 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th July 1998 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CRANS MONTANA, SWITZERLAND
  • City:
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Reuters ID: LVADH7PE8EF6DUGEG8DFPE1FOYZI
  • Story Text: The United States has confirmed it has held its first official talks with leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

    A top U.S.official said on Sunday (June 28) that leaders of ethnic Albanian rebels in the Serbian province of Kosovo should be given a legitimate role in a peace settlement if they prove they can control their fighters on the ground.

    The U.S.chief peace negotiator for Kosovo, Richard Holbrooke, told Reuters Television on the sidelines of a business forum here that U.S.officials held their first formal contacts with Kosovo Liberation Army leaders on Friday.

    If the rebel leaders prove they have influence over the KLA fighters, "then I think they have a legitimate role in the process," he said.

    At least 300 people have died in fighting since February between Serb forces and KLA rebels.

    The KLA's swift seizure of land -- at least one-third of Kosovo according to Western estimates -- has spotlighted the futility of a long-time non-violent campaign for independence by Rugova.This has given radicals an upper hand over Rugova, who is regarded as more amenable to compromise.

    The State Department had recently announced that it would shortly begin contacts with the KLA in search of a peaceful solution to the conflict which the West fears could spiral into a new Balkan war.

    Holbrooke flew into Crans Montana on Saturday to continue his dizzying shuttle diplomacy and spent most of his time here either in meetings or on the telephone to Washington.

    He came to Switzerland following a tour of the Serbian region where he met Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade as well as Kosovo's ethnic Albanian political leaders in Pristina.

    Western diplomats say Washington has decided that a political solution to the crisis requires the political participation of the KLA.Holbrooke emphasised that Washington supported Ibrahim Rugova, and that any other approach could lead to general war in Europe.

    At the weekend, Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano, who is also attending the Crans Montana forum, agreed that the KLA had to be brought into the political process.


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