PRISHTINA, Nov 13 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova told a press conference today (Friday) the

situation in Kosova continued to be grave. "There is a huge presence of Serbian forces here, and many displaced Albanians

are fearful of returning to their homes", he said, calling for the international community to offer them security to return to their

homes.

President Rugova denounced the Serb campaign of political trials of young Albanians in Kosova. He recalled that LDK chapter

vice-chairman in Gjilan, Lutfi Haziri, and four of his party colleagues from that constituency continued to be in Serb regime

detention.

Rugova pressed also for the release of LDK chapter chairman in Malisheva, Jakup Kastrati, and chapter presidency member

Cen Desku, who are being held in custody by UÇK (Kosova Liberation Army) groups. "I regret, but I must say that this [arrest]

does no good to Kosova".

The President of the Republic called for an urgent arrival in Kosova of the Hague Tribunal's Chief Prosecutor and investigators

to investigate crimes committed here. "The Hague Tribunal has a jurisdiction in Kosova, because it had been founded to

prosecute the crimes in all territories of the former Yugoslavia", Rugova insisted.

The OSCE Verification Mission (KVM) should be up and running as soon as possible here, because it would provide a sense of

security for the people of Kosova, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova said. He reiterated his demand for NATO troops to be deployed in

Kosova, to offer a permanent protection to the people here.

The best solution for Kosova is an independent status, with all guarantees for the local Serb community, as well as an interim

international protectorate pending a lasting solution, President Rugova said.

Albania's ATA news agency's correspondent asked whether local Serbs had any reason to fear "Kosova's freedom", as he put

it. There are no reasons whatsoever, the President said. "All our institutions, the political parties, and the people of Kosova have

repeatedly affirmed that Serbs will be protected in Kosova. They will have all their rights safeguarded. We do not designate the

Kosova Serbs a minority. Therefore, claims by Serb extremists and fears by some that Serbs would suffer in an independent

Kosova are unfounded", Ibrahim Rugova concluded.