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Serbia: Serb, Albanian Leaders To Discuss Kosovo




Washington, 2 April 1997 (RFE/RL) - Ethnic Albanian and Serb leaders are expected to attend a high-level conference in New York City next week to try resolve ethnic tensions in Kosovo, a Serb province with a predominantly ethnic Albanian population.

The three-day event, beginning on Monday, is organized by a private policy group called the New Project on Ethnic Relations (PER).

The head of the group, Allen Kassoff, who will chair the event, told our correspondent that it will be a roundtable session to air grievances and try and find solutions. He said it not be a mediation or intervention, but rather a discussion.

Kassoff said leaders of most major political parties and coalitions in Serbia are planning to attend, including Kosovo Albanians and Serb government officials.

On the American side, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Rudolf Perina will attend as an observer but will not participate in talks.

Kassoff said proceedings will be closed to reporters but results of the conference are to be announced at a concluding press conference next week on Wednesday.
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