SERBIAN GOVT DELEGATION ARRIVES IN KOSOVO

( Editorial: --> 9016 ) PRISTINA, March 12 (Hina) - A Serbian government delegation arrived in Kosovo on Thursday morning for negotiations with political representatives of Kosovo Albanians. Following the recent bloodshed and pressures by the international community, the Serbian government announced Wednesday "a public dialogue with representatives of the Albanian minority in Kosovo," on the province's government premises. The four-member delegation is headed by Serbian Deputy Prime Minister, Ratko Markovic, but it is as yet unknown who of the Kosovo Albanian representatives would hold the talks with them. Kosovo Albanian leaders described the call of the Serbians for a public dialogue as not serious and unacceptable. Senior official of the largest Albanian party - The Democratic Union of Kosovo, Fehmi Agani, said Thursday that Albanian politicians had not received a formal request or a programme for talks with the Serbian side. Agani said this was not a serious approach to opening a dialogue between Albanians and Serbs, adding this was manoeuvring of the Serbian regime which was under tremendous international condemnation because of the bloodshed in Kosovo. Kosovo Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova said Wednesday that an autonomy for Kosovo was not an alternative (because this could be a source of conflict with Serbia) and the Kosovo's independence was the best and long-term solution. Rugova stressed Kosovo Albanians were ready for a dialogue with the Serb side only through the mediation of a third side - the United States or the European Union. Legitimate representatives of Kosovo Albanians are not ready to participate in talks under these conditions, without the presence of representatives of the international community, and as long as violence in Kosovo is still ongoing. (hina) lm jn 121151 MET mar 98