To the kind attention of Mr Martti Ahtisaari

President of the Republic of Finland

Brussels, Monday, May 24, 1999

Mr. President,

We are writing this letter to you, aware of the difficult task which is yours of representing the EU interests and values in the question of Kosovo, to raise a problem that deeply concerns us, namely the case of some kosovarian intellectuals and political figures about whom, for too long now, we have no news.

The first case is that of Prof. Ukshin Hoti, one of the most respected and prominent intellectual of Kosovo, who was repeatedly sentenced for his opinions and who has been nominated last year for the Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament.

Professor Hoti has ultimated his last sentence on Monday, May 17 and should have been released on that day from the Dubrova prison, close by the town of Istok. To the best of our knowledge he has not been released yet.

As you certainly know, that prison has been targeted during last week NATO air strikes and so far we could not find any information concerning his current conditions.

On the other hand, as you may understand, under the present circumstances, his relaese and his stay in Kosovo, without appropriate protection, would imply serious risks for his physical integrity.

The best solution would be that Prof. Hoti reaches his family that has found shelter in Macedonia.

The other case that we allow ourselves to raise with you is that of Mr. Albin Kurti, one of the leaders of the Student Union of Kosovo and his colleague Mr. Adil Vokkri. Both of them have been arrested by the serbian police together with other relatives on 28 April 1999.

The reports concerning the brutality of the arrest, the fact that, so far, no news concerning their whereabout or their conditions have been made available and the recent assassination of Mr. Agami by the serbian forces, deeply worry us.

We would be very grateful to you, Mr. President, for any kind of initiatives that you could undertake in order to find those people and help them find shelter out of Yougoslavia.

In the hope that this situation will soon find a positive solution and confident in you intervention, please accept our best regards.

Olivier Dupuis Gianfranco Dell'Alba