KOSOVO ALBANIANS REFUSE TALKS WITH SERBIAN REPRESENTATIVES

( Editorial: --> 5330 ) PRISTINA, April 7 (Hina) - Kosovo Albanian representatives on Tuesday again failed to show up for negotiations with Serbian authorities, despite the Serbian delegation being headed by President Milan Milutinovic and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's envoy Vladan Kutlesic. Kosovo Albanians are against any talks with Serbian authorities without international mediation and are seeking talks with representatives from federal Yugoslav authorities. Milutinovic told reporters that despite Tuesday's non-appearance by Kosovo Albanian representatives, Serbian authorities would continue to be open to constructive dialogue. The Coordinator of the Kosovo Albanian negotiating team, Fehmi Agani, said it was clear the Serbian delegation did not arrive for talks, but to play out a game of alleged readiness of Serbia for dialogue with Albanians. He said that Kosovo Albanians were prepared for negotiations with Yugoslav and Serbian representatives, but only within Contact Group standards, in other words only in the presence of an international representative. (Hina) mm mb 072345 MET apr 98