RUGOVA DID NOT GET FORMAL REQUEST FOR DIALOGUE FROM BELGRADE

( Editorial: --> 8793 ) PRISTINA, March 11 (Hina) - The leader of the Democratic Union of Kosovo (DSK), Ibrahim Rugova, said Wednesday he did not receive an official offer for dialogue from the Serbian government. He did, however, express readiness of Kosovo Albanians for talks, if no conditions are set. Rugova is also prepared to hold negotiations, with mediation from the international community, which should result in a just solution to the Kosovo problem. Rugova said most of the Albanian population were for a peaceful solution to the Kosovo issue, and were aware of the fact that an armed conflict with Serbia could be dangerous. Rugova said that it was unacceptable for Kosovo to remain in the Yugoslavia such as it is and which would not be a long-term solution for the province. The request for Kosovo's independence, freedom and democracy does not mean a change of borders, Rugova said. He condemned Serbian authorities for not allowing Albanian experts to perform autopsies on persons killed by Serbian police last week, and for not allowing the families to give proper burial to their killed loved ones. Rugova said that at this moment, the most important thing was for the violence and killings to cease. He described the visit of the US President's special envoy for the former Yugoslavia, Robert Gelbard, and the conclusions of the Contact Group as very important for finding a solution to the Kosovo crisis. Rugova asked the United States, European Union and other European Countries to consistently implement the decisions reached by the Contact Group. Commenting on the decision of the Contact Group that Spanish diplomat Filipe Gonzales be the mediator for Kosovo, Rugova said the decision was acceptable, stressing that Belgrade would, sooner or later, accept this. (hina) lm jn /mb 111546 MET mar 98