FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
DIRECTORATE FOR INFORMATION
 

YUGOSLAV DAILY SURVEY
 

BELGRADE, 28 April 1999 No. 2283
 

S T A T E M E N T

Serbian President Milan Milutinovic met with Dr. Ibrahim Rugova in
Pristina on Wednesday.
In the two-hour talks, after which Milutinovic and Rugova signed a joint
statement, both sides noted that talks on a peaceful and political
settlement for Kosovo and Metohija should be direct with equal
participation of all national communities there.
The political agreement should define a substantial self-governance for
Kosovo and Metohija, with full respect for the equality of all citizens and
all national communities, the sovereignty and unity of the territory of
Serbia and Yugoslavia.
Agreement was reached on the necessity of an early establishment of an
Interim Executive Council of Kosovo and Metohija which would carry out the
executive authority tasks pending the constitution of  the authorities on
the basis of the agreement on a political settlement for Kosovo and
Metohija.
The text of the joint statement reads as follows:
  "Serbian President Milan Milutinovic and Dr. Ibrahim Rugova have agreed
on the following

JOINT STATEMENT

1. It is necessary immediately to renew and intensify the initiated talks
between the Serbian Government and political leaders of the political
parties of Albanians of Kosovo and Metohija on a political agreement which
will grant to Kosmet substantial self-governance, with full respect for the
equality of all citizens and all national communities, the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Serbia and Yugoslavia. It was agreed that such an
approach constitutes the basis of a lasting and just solution to the
problems in Kosmet.

2. The two sides concluded that the talks should be direct, with equal
participation of all national communities living in Kosovo and Metohija,
which is a precondition for achieving acceptable solutions for all those
living in Kosovo and Metohija.
Direct talks should be a confirmation of building mutual confidence as an
essential condition for coming out of the current situation.

3. Subject to approval by both sides, talks may be attended also by
representatives of the international community as guests.

4. An agreement was reached on the need to set up, at an early date and in
the changed  conditions, the Interim Executive Council of Kosovo and
Metohija, which would exercise the functions of a provisional government
pending the constitution of the authorities on the basis of the Basic Act
on the Self-government of Kosovo and Metohija. The make-up of the Interim
Executive Council and its internal organization, in particular the
establishment of a new departmental division of administration, should take
into consideration the current problems facing Kosovo and Metohija.

(The text of the joint statement was signed by Serbian President Milan
Milutinovic and Dr. Ibrahim Rugova in Pristina on April 28.)

The talks were also attended by Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Nikola
Sainovic, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Ratko Markovic and Kosovo and
Metohija Interim Executive Council President Zoran Andjelkovic.

During his visit to Pristina, Serbian President Milutinovic laid a wreath
in memory of all victims of the NATO aggression.
In talks with members of the Provincial Interim Executive Council and with
the economic and political leaders of Kosovo and Metohija, President
Milutinovic was acquainted with the current situation in the southern
Serbian province and with the functioning of state organs and organs of
local self-government.