Today's was the second plenary session of the Kosova Parliament, elected almost a year ago.

The speaker of the Parliament, Idriz Ajeti, said the Kosova issue has now become fully internationalized. Europe has come to understand, at long last, that there can be no peace and progress in the Balkans unless the Kosovar issue has been duly solved, he said. "The emergence of the UÇK (Kosova Liberation Army) in the military scene has made the international factor step up efforts to solve the issue of the Albanians of Kosova", the Parliament's speaker said, paying tribute to the armed struggle of the UÇK against Serbian occupation forces.

The Rambouillet conferences was the result primarily of the engagement by the United States of America, which encouraged other factors in Europe to get fully involved in efforts to secure a settlement for Kosova, according to Idriz Ajeti.

The Parliament's speaker, himself a member of the Kosova delegation to the Rambouillet conference, as well as Fehmi Agani, a leading Kosova negotiator, elaborated on the basic elements of the kind of self-government provided by the Accords.

Dr. Agani recalled that the Rambouillet conference was not about Kosova's independence, but rather talks to secure an interim, three-year-long, settlement. The Contact Group had limited the framework, which essentially produced a compromise, he said, noting that "the bad thing about the compromise is that it satisfies none of the parties".

If it was not for the support of a great part of the international community, especially the commitment of the United States and Madame Albright in person, this outcome - be it not a perfect one - would not have been achieved, Dr. Fehmi Agani said. The interim agreement should be supported, because it gives Kosova a high level of self-government, giving Kosova all the key institutions - legislative, executive, the judiciary, a Parliament, a Government, a Constitution, the President, etc. - the Kosovar negotiator said.

The MPs Gjergj Dedaj, Behxhet Brajshori, Simon Augustini, Hilmo Kandiq, Jakup Jahiri, Sylë Hoxha, Latif Berisha, Mehmet Kurteshi, Tomë Hajdari, Izadin Kryeziu, and Adil Pireva spoke in support of the agreement.

Demë Fetaj, an LDK member of Parliament from the war-ravaged western Deçan area said he had no constituency to consult, for "only ruins" remain there.

Ali Lajçi, also an LDK MP, expressed his reservations about the Rambouillet agreement, because, as he put it, "it does not recognize the Republic of Kosova". This agreement, legally speaking, is unacceptable, he said. "It is not legitimate that the Parliament of the Republic of Kosova decide on this Agreement".

After lengthy discussions, the Parliament of the Republic of Kosova adopted a seven-point declaration in support of signing the Rambouillet Accords.

The Parliament of the Republic supports the 3-year-long interim settlement for Kosova, which secures real and independent self-government by the Kosova organs, because the Agreement does not "prejudge the final solution, nor does it close off the process leading to independence for Kosova", point 2 of the declaration said.

The international community, first and foremost the U.S. and NATO, should through an energetic intervention force Serbia and self-proclaimed Yugoslavia bring an end to Serbian offensives against the people of Kosova and "immediately withdraw [Serbian] military, police and paramilitary units from Kosova", the Parliament said.

There can be no successful implementation of the Agreement unless NATO troops are committed to the ground in Kosova, the Parliament of the Republic insisted.

The Parliament made it clear that in the three years, the people of Kosova and its "political and state institutions" will demonstrate they can build a "genuine civic and democratic society",, thus justifying their natural right to live in freedom as an independent statehood and become a significant factor of stability in the region.

Local LDK sources said Shaban Zeqiri (46), father of five, who received six gunshot wounds, is in a critical condition.

Abdyl Mushica (46) and another person named Isa were seriously wounded in the attack, whereas Ismet Llapjani (37) and another man, named Gani were lightly wounded.

Sylejman Selimi - Sulltani, the Supreme Commander of the UÇK, addressing the crowd, said the UÇK will not accept anything which contradicts "freedom and independence for Kosova".

Serbs launched the attack from their positions in Frashër i Vogël and Shipol, local LDK sources said.

Arms shooting was reported last night in several parts of the town of Mitrovica.