The best way for us to give credit to President Rugova and his legacy will be to remain united in the months ahead, Jessen-Petersen said after meeting Kosovo leaders in Pristina.
This is the moment for all citizens and political leaders in Kosovo to show their unity, maturity and wisdom to the benefit of Kosovo now and in the future, the province's UN civil administrator said.
Daci, who will take over as acting president under Kosovo's constitutional framework, said that Kosovo was in mourning and grief over the deceased president, stressing that Kosovo could be proud to have had such a fighter for its freedom and independence.
The European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, said in Brussels that with Rugova's passing Kosovo has lost a historic leader who dedicated his life to protecting and promoting the rights of the people of Kosovo.
Solana noted that Rugova's death came at a particularly sensitive moment for Kosovo, and called on all Kosovo leaders to demonstrate unity and responsible behaviour.
Following the news of Rugova's death, the UN special envoy for talks on the future status of Kosovo, former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, called for calm and the continuation of the status talks, at which Rugova was to have led the Albanian delegation.
I am certain that President Rugova would have wanted us continue the Kosovo status talks so that eventually we can produce results, Ahtisaari said at a press conference in Helsinki.
I also hope that the situation in Kosovo will remain calm and that the Constitution will be respected, he added.
There have been no reactions from the authorities in Belgrade yet, but Kosovo Serb leaders have offered their sympathies to Rugova's family.
Serb Resistance Movement leader Momcilo Trajkovic said that Rugova had led the Albanian separatist movement in Kosovo very wisely.
He outwitted Serb leaders several times, managing to gain international attention for his separatist movement, so much so that Kosovo fought for independence with the help of the international community, Trajkovic said.
Trajkovic added that he hoped that in seeking a solution to the future status of Kosovo international principles would be observed and the territorial integrity of Serbia and Montenegro respected.
Rada Trajkovic of the Serb National Council of Kosovo and Metohija said she expected a "turbulent and uncertain" political situation in the province as a result of political in-fighting within Rugova's party, the Democratic League of Kosovo.