Kosovo rebel chief Mr Hashim Thaci yesterday said he "felt very good" that political rival Mr Ibrahim Rugova had returned to Kosovo and that there was space in the province for the pacifist leader.
"I've been inviting Rugova to come back to Kosovo for a long time," Mr Thaci said in his office in Pristina. "I feel very good that he accepted.
"There is enough space in Kosovo for Mr Rugova," Mr Thaci added.
Mr Rugova returned yesterday to a warm welcome from Kosovars, after leaving Kosovo for Italy in early May during NATO air strikes against Yugoslav forces. He represents a potential political rival for Mr Thaci and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).
"I'm going to listen to his opinion about the future of Kosovo," Mr Thaci said.
But he also said the KLA's political bureau "belongs to Kosovars, not to people who are losers, who have been losers before the war, during the war, and now after the war".
Asked if he was referring to Mr Rugova, Mr Thaci said he was "not talking specifically about Mr Rugova".
"I'm talking about the ones who have respected the policy of waiting, who have not been active in the resistance, and to all who have placed obstacles in the resistance's path," he said.
Speaking of the incoming UN special representative to Kosovo, Mr Bernard Kouchner, Mr Thaci said he expected the UN envoy to "continue the job of Mr De Mello", a reference to Mr Sergio Vieira de Mello, whom Mr Kouchner replaces.
Specifically, that means "creating conditions and circumstances under which they [Kosovars] may live free and safe" and helping them to return to their jobs and families, Mr Thaci said.
Mr Rugova was expected to return to Italy later yesterday for a number of unspecified meetings but could go back to Kosovo within the next few days, one of his aides said.
Meanwhile, Mr Kouchner, arrived at Pristina's Slatina airport with a pledge to help patch relations between Serbs and ethnic Albanians.
"The people of Kosovo must listen, must talk, must walk with us, not only to build the administration of course, but also the democracy," he said.
He added that his administration would be transparent and asked the media to carry his message, not only to the world, but to all the people of Kosovo.
"My first thoughts go to the victims, to those who are still suffering, to the entire population of Kosovo," he said.
He also urged Serbs and ethnic Albanians to move towards "peace and reconciliation, so that people may speak to each other and build a democracy and another system of life".
Kosovo Peacekeeping Force (Kfor) commander Gen Sir Michael Jackson and Mr de Mello met Mr Kouchner at the airport.