Kostunica For Kosovan Autonomy But Against U.S. Plans
ROME (AFP) - Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica rounded on "resurgent Albanian terrorism" and what he called poor United States measures to resolve the Kosovo crisis after meeting with Italian leaders here Monday.
"Are we going to fold under the pressure of resurgent Albanian terrorism and poor American plans, hastily put together to resolve the Kosovo question, or are we going to take advantage of the opportunity provided by U.N. resolution 1244 to settle the problem?" Kostunica said.
The Yugoslav leader was referring both to the situation in Kosovo where most of the non-Albanian population has been forced out of the region since NATO troops arrived, and in neighboring southern Serbia where armed Albanian separatists have occupied Serb territory, provoking exchanges of fire with Yugoslav troops.
Kostunica said he was in favor of substantial autonomy for Kosovo within greater Serbia in line with U.N. resolutions and hoped that regional and European institutions, as well as the international community would help the country to overcome its problems.
On his first official visit to an EU capital, Kostunica met with Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Prime Minister Guiliano Amato, and was due to meet Pope John Paul II in a private audience.
Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic and his Italian counterpart, Lamberto Dini, signed agreements on investment and shipping.
