Milutinovic and Rugova advocate for the political solution

Belgrade, April 16 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Milan Milutionovic received Friday Ibrahim Rugova, the Serbian president's office said.

In conformity with the Joint Statement of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and ethnic Albanian leader Rugova from April 2, the talks dealt with issues of importance for the future political process and for seeking a solution to problems in Kosovo and Metohija, the statement said.

It was mutually assessed that a political solution should be based on the principle of full equality of all citizens and national minorities. It was pointed out that a just and lasting political solution in Kosovo and Metohija can be reached exclusively by respecting the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-confessional approach, urged by Serbia and Yugoslavia with consistency from the very beginning. It was underlined that that approach represented a basis for a lasting and just solution of problems in Kosovo and Metohija.

It was mutually assessed that only direct dialogue of those living in the province with the parity participation of the representatives of all national communities, solutions can be reached that are acceptable for all living in Kosovo and Metohija.

In the talks it was mutually concluded that the stopping of the bombardment of our country was a condition without which the political process cannot be realized in full, because the victims are all the citizens of Kosovo and Metohija, regardless of nationality or religion, and whether they are ethnic Albanians or Serbs. A mutual readiness was expressed that direct talks be continued in the process for finding a lasting solution to problems in Kosovo and Metohija.

President Milutinovic and Rugova agreed that the opened dialogue confirmed at the same time the strengthening of mutual confidence as a key condition for a way out of the current situation.