Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has made the following statement regarding the death of the President of Kosovo, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova:

At this sad time, I would like to convey my condolances to the people of Kosovo, and my sympathy to the familiy of President Ibrahim Rugova.

President Rugova was respected for his strong commitment to the ideals of non-violence and peace. He provided principled leadership during difficult and challenging times for all inhabitants in Kosovo.

President Rugova’s death comes on the eve of the political process to determine Kosovo’s future. It is my hope that this process will go on, and that all the people of Kosovo will work to build a society founded on the principles of democracy, human rights and inter-ethnic tolerance. I call on all political leaders of Kosovo to work with determination and resolve in order that all communities can resolve their differences and build the democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo that President Rugova had as his ideal. This would indeed be a fitting legacy for President Ibrahim Rugova.