Mr Ibrahim Rugova, the moderate Kosovo Albanian leader, said yesterday that NATO troops as part of a peacekeeping force in Kosovo were a "clear and essential" ingredient for the safe return of refugees.
Speaking in Rome after being allowed leave Pristina by the Yugoslav authorities, he said Serb forces must pull out and "international forces, forces from NATO and other countries," must be introduced into the province.
"The first thing is to re-establish security in Kosovo," Mr Rugova said at a joint news conference with the Italian Prime Minister, Mr Massimo D'Alema. "We need an international peace force in Kosovo. That is essential to creating security for Albanians who left the country, but also for the Serbs" living there.
"A clear and essential condition for the return of the refugees is an international force in Kosovo including NATO and other countries and the withdrawal of Serb forces," he said.
He said he left Kosovo to meet with colleagues on building Kosovo's future. "During my stay in Kosovo I had contacts with Belgrade authorities, we discussed a process for finding a political solution and creating a climate of confidence," he added.
Mr Rugova, whose conciliatory public statements have raised speculation he was manipulated by the Belgrade government, said: "I represent Kosovo's elected, I represent the Kosovar people, but in any pluralistic society there are differences."