HOLBROOKE AND GELBARD FINISH TALKS WITH RUGOVA IN PRISTINA

( Editorial: --> 3302 ) PRISTINA, May 12 (Hina) - United States' envoys Richard Holbrooke and Robert Gelbard talked with the Kosovo Albanian leader, Ibrahim Rugova, for more than two and a half hours in Pristina on Tuesday about the possibilities of establishing dialogue for the solution of the Kosovo problem. Fehmi Agani, leader of the negotiating assembly of Kosovo Albanians which is preparing a platform for negotiations with Yugoslav authorities, also joined the talks. After the meeting, Holbrooke told journalists that one more round of talks with Rugova has finished and that he has nothing special to say about the discussions, only that he was impressed by Rugova's commitment for a peaceful solution to the Kosovo problem. Now we will return to Belgrade where we will meet with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Holbrooke said. He added that there still exist big differences between the Albanian and Serb sides. Rugova told journalists that methods for reaching a peaceful solution to the Kosovo problem were discussed, as well as the request for freedom and independence of Kosovo. We will again discuss these issues but it is very significant that I again asked for the independence of Kosovo, said Rugova who called on Kosovo citizens to show restraint and requested an urgent stop to military and police actions. (hina) mrb/lm 121556 MET may 98