22/01/2006
(Brussels, DTT-NET.COM)-Leaders of EU, UN, NATO, US and OSCE have expressed their sadness on the death of Kosovo president Ibrahim Rugova, who died Saturday from lung cancer.
“The Commission and its President are saddened by the death of President Rugova. On behalf of the Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso presents his condolences first and foremost to the family. President Rugova was a highly respected leader of Kosovo. The Commission appreciated his work for a peaceful solution to the problems of Kosovo, and encourages all leaders to continue to work in this spirit.” (European Commission).
"It is with profound sadness that I have heard of the death of President Ibrahim Rugova. With him Kosovo has lost a historic leader who devoted his life to protecting and promoting the rights of the people of Kosovo. President Rugova was a man of peace, firm in the face of oppression, but deeply committed to the ideals of non-violence. For this he was loved by his people and respected all over the world. My deeply felt condolences go to his family and to the people of Kosovo. The loss of President Rugova comes at a particularly challenging time for Kosovo. His wisdom and authority will be greatly missed. At this difficult moment I call on all leaders of Kosovo to show unity and responsibility. This is the best way to pay tribute to the memory of President Rugova." (Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy)
“ It is with deep regret that I have learned of the passing away of the President of Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova. In the name of the Presidency of the European Union and in my own name I would like to convey my condolences to his family, to the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Kosovo and to the entire population of Kosovo.
During his exceptional political career President Rugova worked tirelessly for the interest of Kosovo. As a staunch and unwavering defender of the principle of non-violence he has continuously pursued his efforts through political dialogue. He was not given the chance to complete his political path. At a time, when the future status of Kosovo is being negotiated, we call on all sides to keep up his political legacy in cooperating and finding a solution which will bring peace, prosperity, security and lasting stability to Kosovo and all its people.” (Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, EU Council of Foreign Ministers President).
”I wish to express my condolences to the people of Kosovo upon the death of President Ibrahim Rugova. President Rugova led his people through challenging times and earned the world's respect for his advocacy of democracy and peace. Even while battling his final illness, President Rugova worked to bring unity to Kosovo's leaders and hope to its people. The United States has lost a great friend today. The people of Kosovo have lost a great leader. President Rugova's death comes just as Kosovo enters a political process to determine its future. Despite the loss of his leadership, this process will go on. The United States will continue to work with all the people of Kosovo to build a society based upon the principles of democracy, human rights and inter-ethnic tolerance that President Rugova valued so deeply”. (US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice).
"It is with deep regret and sadness that I learned of the passing of President Ibrahim Rugova. I wish first of all to extend my heartfelt condolences and sympathy to President Rugova's family and to the people of Kosovo. Kosovo has lost a historic leader at this crucial time, as the negotiations on Kosovo's status have entered an important phase. He was the symbol of the aspirations of Kosovo's people and devoted his life to promoting the rights of the people of Kosovo through peaceful means. I was very impressed by his vision for the future, his determination to work for a better Kosovo, and his leadership of the negotiation team. I have fond memories of our meeting in Pristina during my first trip to Kosovo after being appointed Special Envoy. I expect the momentum generated by President Rugova to be sustained, and that Kosovo's political leaders assume the responsibility to remain unified and actively support our common efforts to realize Kosovo's status. I reiterate my commitment to leading the status process to culminate in a political settlement that determines the future status of Kosovo." (Martti Ahtisaari, Special Envoy for the Future status process for Kosovo.
“On behalf of the NATO Alliance, I wish to express my profound condolences at the death of President Ibrahim Rugova of Kosovo after his long illness. President Rugova will be remembered as a man committed to the idea of a fully democratic, peaceful and multi-ethnic Kosovo. Mr. Rugova’s opposition to violence, including during the difficult years that deset the former Yugoslavia, was both brave and remarkable. Until the very end, he served the people of Kosovo with conviction. He played a key role in helping Kosovo down the long and often painful road towards reconciliation, lasting peace and stability. I am confident that his example will continue to guide the people of Kosovo at this important time, and into the future. (NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer)
"I am struck by a feeling of immense loss over the untimely death of a person who came to embody the search for a peaceful and democratic future for his beloved Kosovo.. Over a lifetime as a dedicated pacifist, through the violence of the Second World War when both his father and grandfather were executed, to the decade of repression in Kosovo before the NATO intervention in 1999, he has always led by his personal example. Truly, he has been an outstanding figure in the history of the Balkans region. We must show our respect for him by not allowing his death at such a sensitive time to alter the very real prospects for a lasting solution. The OSCE will maintain its strong support." (OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht).
“I want to express my deep sympathy and condolences to all the people of Kosovo on the death of President Ibrahim Rugova. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.
President Rugova was one of the most popular figures in Kosovo. He created an international awareness of, and concern for, the plight of the Kosovo people. In so doing, he always pursued his goals through peaceful means. His death comes as a process to determine Kosovo's future status has just begun. This is something that President Rugova long wanted and argued hard for. All the people of Kosovo should continue to work for a stable and multi-ethnic society where all people, regardless of ethnic background, race or religion, are free to live in peace and security. This would be a fitting legacy for President Rugova.” (UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw).
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today mourned the passing of Kosovo's President, Ibrahim Rugova, and urged that his legacy of peace be sustained in the period ahead.
In a statement released by his spokesman, the Secretary General hailed the late politician for having "demonstrated true leadership and advocated a peaceful solution for Kosovo."
He noted that Mr. Rugova passed away at a crucial moment, with final preparations now underway for talks on Kosovo's future status. "The Secretary General trusts in the maturity of Kosovo's institutions and believes that the loss of Kosovo's President will not disrupt this process," the spokesman said.
The Secretary General also called on the Kosovo political leaders to maintain their unity and continue cooperating with his Special Envoy, Mr. Martti Ahtisaari, and his Special Representative, Mr. Soren Jessen-Petersen.
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Ibrahim Rugova


Le président du Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova élu démocratiquement après le renversement de Slobodan Milosevic est mort d'un cancer aujourd'hui. Il avait été élu président en mars 2002 aux premières élections organisées par l'ONU dans la province. Il avait été réélu en octobre 2004.

Il a été surnommé le "Gandhi des Balkans" dans une allusion à son choix de la non-violence pendant la répression sous le régime Milosevic.

Sa disparition laisse un vide dans le Kosovo, car on ne sait pas si son successeur gardera sa ligne non-violente et des contact avec l'ONU et les voisins afin d'arriver à l'indépendance totale politique et économique du Kosovo, où sont encore basés des soldats de l'ONU et de l'OTAN.