PRESIDENT RUGOVA OF KOSOVA HELD IN THE SERBIAN POLICE STATION FOR ONE HOUR

Kosova Information Center, Prishtina, 19 august 1993

President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, together with his aides, was held Wednesday evening at a police station in Prishtina between 22:30 and 23:30 hrs.

Following an official dinner hosted by President Rugova for a German delegation visiting Kosova, comprised of Mr. Peter Glotz German Bundestag member, and Dr. Gerhard Schroembeus, Chargé d'Affaires of the German Embassy in Belgrade, the Serbian police halted the car President Rugova was in and two escorting cars. Accompanying Dr. Rugova were Mr. Anton Kolaj, LDK vice-chairman and Dr. Shaqir Shaqiri, LDK Foreign Affairs Secretary.

The Serbian police gave no explanation whatsoever as to the reason for the halt and holding President Rugova at the Serbian police station.

In a statement issued today, the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) denounces this move of the Serbian police qualifying it "a grave provocation against the Albanian people of Kosova".

LDK further notes that this provocation follows massive-scale violence and state terror of Serbia against the Albanians. "We urge the international community to undertake decisive and energetic steps against the Serbian policy of agression in Kosova, which has been persistently working towards staging a massive-scale conflict, with tragic implications for Kosova and the entire region" says LDK in the statement issued today.