We had a lot of international help especially from the EU and USA, which helped us to get out of this phase of emergency, to give some dynamism to Kosova.

In 1998 Rugova secured a second term as president but was placed at odds with the KLA as the Kosovo War broke out. He was readily identifiable by the silk neckscarf that he wore as a display of oppression in Kosovo and was known for his habit of giving visitors samples from his rock collection. As part of his studies he spent two years (1976–1977) at the École Pratique des Hautes Études of the University of Paris where he studied under Roland Barthes.

He oversaw a popular struggle for independence advocating a peaceful resistance to Yugoslav rule and lobbying for U. Effective power however was in the hands of the United Nations administration.