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FEBRUARY
2004
ERPKIMINFO
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Newsletter
28. February, 2004
Ignoring
Kosovo's reality does not lead to stability
Diocesan
communique on the latest report by Xavier Solana
The Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija wishes to express
its serious concerns regarding the most recent report of EU high
representative for foreign policy and security Javier Solana on
the evolution of EU stabilization of the situation in Kosovo and
Metohija. Unfortunately, this document is more likely to lead
to the destabilization of the entire region than to its stabilization
and unification with Europe.
Deceiving
the public in self-defense, reaction to the statement by Derek
Chapel
If UNMIK police and its representatives continue in the same vein,
what many already see clearly will be revealed to everyone that
much more quickly: that the UNMIK police presence in the southernmost
Serbian province is just a smokescreen for the completion of the
remaining Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija and the building of a
second Albanian national state in the Balkans.
Newsletter
26. February, 2004
Persecution
of canonic Ochrid Diocese by Skopje authorities and group of schismatic
bishops continues in FYR Macedonia
The
Republic of Macedonia is losing much of its international respect,
especially now when a decision on its ascension to the European
Union is to be made. By supporting seven schismatic bishops, who
do not enjoy any support among Orthodox Christians, the government
is exposing itself to the risk of not being admitted to the Union
due not only to repression and disregard for human rights, as
the government has been conducting against the members of the
Orthodox Archdiocese of Ochrid, but also because of the same sort
of treatment toward foreign citizens of Orthodox confession who
wish to enter the Republic of Macedonia or who seek to pass through
it in transit, which they are being forbidden to do upon the urging
of the aforementioned schismatics. In this manner, the acceptance
of the Republic of Macedonia into European civilization and European
institutions is excluded (from the Communiqué by the persecuted
Synod of Ochrid Archdiocese)
Newsletter
25. February, 2004
Crimes
under eyes of KFOR and UNMIK
The
goal of the ongoing attacks of the Albanians is to expel more
than 420 Serbs from Staro Gracko who have yet to recover from
the tragedy that occurred on July 23, 1999, when Albanian terrorists
massacred 14 people working in the fields not far from their homes.
Before that the villagers were mourning five of their inhabitants
who were killed during the NATO aggression. (Politika daily)
BETA:
Svilanovic demands UN action after Kosovo killings
"Serbia-Montenegro expects the Security Council to undertake
resolute and concrete action this time to prevent further crimes
and provide security for all citizens of Kosovo," said Svilanovic,
in a statement issued by the foreign ministry in Belgrade.
POLITIKA:
Crimes under eyes of KFOR and UNMIK
The goal of the ongoing attacks of the Albanians is to expel more
than 420 Serbs from Staro Gracko who have yet to recover from
the tragedy that occurred on July 23, 1999, when Albanian terrorists
massacred 14 people working in the fields not far from their homes.
Before that the villagers were mourning five of their inhabitants
who were killed during the NATO aggression.
Serbs
protest murder in Lipljan
At the beginning of the protest the gathered were addressed by
Rada Trajkovic, a representative of the "Povratak" coalition
in the Kosovo parliament. She stated that the recent murders are
just showing how Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija feel. "Removal
of checkpoints represents an indirect message of the international
peacekeepers that Serbs should leave the Serbian southern province.
This is just one more very big step on the road towards creating
future Kosovo statehood compiled by evil minds," stated Trajkovic.
GLAS:
Albanians cleaning their own
Ethem Ceku is known as a top member of the Albanian mafia, which
does its criminal activities as part of the criminal organization
of Ramush Haradinaj and Ekrem Luka. Luka is known as one of the
main financers of Albanian terrorists in Kosovo. At the end of
the nineties he gave the UCK almost 2 million euros. Today, Luka
is one of the most financially powerful persons in the province.
He owns a cigarette factory, brewery, TV station, bars and a basketball
team among other things. He has under his control the Serb-Albanian
mafia trade going on between Belgrade and Prishtina, and is also
involved in drug, weapons, arms, oil, cars, and human trafficking.
TOL:
Pictures worth 1000 (angry) words
Ethnic Albanian legislators found themselves alone at the 16 February
reopening of the parliamentary auditorium of the Kosovo provisional
government. Everyone else had stayed away to protest the depictions
of Albanian history hanging on the walls of the new building.
EU's
Solana to visit Kosovo as tensions flare
The visit comes days after two Serbs were found shot dead in a
car in what some fear to be another ethnically motivated crime
in the troubled Serbian province.
Oliver
Ivanovic and Dragisa Krstovic following talks with Solana
"Solana was amazed when we asked him: if they were giving
up the past concept on Kosovo," KP caucus whip Dragisa Krstovic
told Novosti. "He told us there was no change of policy but
that the EU only wanted to be included in the resolution of the
problems. Although he asserts this, I am not convinced. It is
possible that the desire of the EU to take the place of the UN
and the SC in resolving the Kosovo and Metohija problems is behind
everything."
Standards
do not define Kosovo's final status
After the talks with representatives of provisional provincial
institutions in Pristina, the EU High Representative for Common
Security and Foreign Policy Xavier Solana has stated that the
international community standards do not define the final status
of Kosovo-Metohija but rather represent a plan to bring Kosovo
to the level appropriate for the future final status on the basis
of rules outlined in the Resolution 1244.
Another
side to the Balkans
Meanwhile, atrocities by the KLA against the few Serbs who have
stayed behind in Kosovo since NATO's entrance in June 1999 continue
under the noses of the international community, while London and
Washington proclaim the Kosovo mission a success. In June 2003,
for instance, an elderly couple, Slobodan (80) and Radmila Stolic
(76) along with their middle-aged son, 52-year-old Ljubinko, were
tortured and killed at their home in Obilic, Kosovo. In the week
leading up to their deaths, they were threatened and bullied when
they refused to sell their home to a group of Albanians. The killing
of the family came just after agreement had been reached for 20
Serb families to return to their homes in that area; the Stolics'
murder was seen by many Serbs as a clear warning not to return.
Newsletter
23. February, 2004 - Second Edition
Rugova
did not visit church in Bicha or met with an Orthodox priest
The
village of Bicha has neither a church nor an Orthodox priest and
therefore the cited meeting could not have occurred as reported
by "Koha Ditore". In its official communiqué
of February 21, the Diocese of Raska and Prizren described the
visit of Holkeri and Rugova to the Serb returnee villages of Bicha
and Belo Polje as media manipulation of the unfortunate inhabitants
whose real intent is to promote Rugova and his party at the beginning
of the pre-election campaign, not to promote Serb returns
Newsletter
23. February, 2004
UNMIK
police commissioner Stephan Feller's work yields no results
Under
the auspices of UNMIK and KFOR the present police commissioner
Stephan Feller (Germany), who has been in Kosovo since the year
2000, continues to hold his inviolable position even though during
the same period UNMIK police has shown itself to be completely
incapable of solving basic security problems and failed to bring
to justice a single perpetrator of crimes against Serbs committed
during the post-war period.
Bishop
Artemije visits family of slain Milijana Markovic of Staro Gracko
The
Bishop shared in the sorrow of the parents and conveyed condolences
on behalf of the clergy, monks and nuns of the Diocese of Raska
and Prizren. "We really do not have anyone to turn to for
help. Only our hope in God sustains us!" said the Bishop
before the gathered locals, adding that "we have no freedom
because all of the criminals who committed crimes against Serbs
remain free"
Newsletter
22. February, 2004
Outcry
over murders in Kosovo
Serbian
journalists today refused to accompany UN governor Harri Holkeri
and Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova on a photo-opportunity tour
of thirty Serb families who have been repatriated to villages
in the Klina district. The local Serbs were openly hostile, greeting
Holkeri and Rugova with banners carrying slogans such as "We
want the truth told," "We are imprisoned" and "Give
us our freedom".
Ombudsman
Nowicki: UNMIK police reliability at a stake
Kosovo ombudsman Marek Antoni Nowicki assessed on Saturday that
the reliability of the work of UNMIK police is at stake due to
the fact that a number of investigations regarding attacks against
Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija remain unsolved.
Despite
all Mr. FEHLER is still UNMIK police head
In any democratic country such a terrible record of crimes during
the so called peacetime would immediately bring about resignations
of the leading persons in Police and justice. However, in Kosovo
other rules are in force. The chief of UNMIK police a German Mr.
Stephan Feller, often called by Serbs Mr. Failure (Fehler in German
means a flaw, error or failure) not only remains the head of impotent
UNMIK police but denies any responsibility for the terrible situation
in the police and justice.
Belgrade
Patriarchate: Still no order and justice in Kosovo and Metohija
The murder of Zlatomir Kostic and Milijana Markovic on the outskirts
of Lipljan in the direction of Staro Gracko on the eve of the
meeting of this Council has confirmed what the Serbian Church
has been constantly repeating and attesting to before all, and
reality, tragically, constantly confirms its warnings: that despite
all the efforts of the International Community, which we do not
deny, crucifixion and persecution remains a constant in the life
of the Serbs since the arrival of the NATO army and the UN administration
in Kosovo and Metohija.
Holkeri
cancels Covic's visit to Holy Archangels for security reasons
UNMIK's statement de facto confirms that in the Prizren area,
especially in around Holy Archangels Monastery, it is unable to
ensure security for a visit by the Serbian delegation, which is
in direct contradiction with earlier statements by German KFOR
that it no longer needs to provide military escorts for the monks
of that monastery due to the supposedly improved security situation.
UNMIK
police and KFOR manipulations continue
In their most recent statements regarding the murder of two Serbs
in Lipljan on Thursday night, UNMIK police and KFOR multinational
brigade Center representatives stressed that there are no indications
that the crime in Lipljan was ethnically motivated. According
to the same logic, of course, it is possible to say that there
are no indications that these were not ethnically motivated crimes
either.
Rugova
kicks off pre-election campaign in Serb villages
Today's visit by UNMIK chief Harri Holkeri and so-called Kosovo
president Ibrahim Rugova to Serb returnee villages in Klina, Istok
and Pec municipalities is an unfortunate example of media manipulation
of Serb returnees with the intent of strengthening the politically
inert Rugova as he launches his pre-election campaign.
AP:
Kosovo minister hurt in car blast
Ethem Ceku, Kosovo's environment and spatial planning minister,
and four others were in a car that blew up shortly after 10 p.m.
(2100 GMT) on Saturday, police spokesman Refki Morina said. All
five were hospitalized but their injuries were not life-threatening,
hospital officials said.
Newsletter
21. February, 2004 - Third Edition
All
Orthodox Churches express negative reaction over the possibility
of establishment of a Greek Catholic Patriarchate in Ukraine*
BARTHOLOMEW
I Patriarch of New Rome (Constantinople): "The establishment
of a Uniate Patriarchate by the Roman Catholic Church will be
regarded as an utterly hostile act against the whole of Orthodoxy
and as contradicting the decision of the Second Vatican Council
at which it was stated that Uniatism is no longer considered as
a model for achieving the unity of the Church and therefore is
an unacceptable method among Christians of proselytizing and stealing
believers from the Orthodox Church with their subordination to
the Roman Catholic Church"
Newsletter
21. February, 2004 - Second Edition
Enough
theatrics! The time has come for concrete action
The
Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija urges Holkeri and
Rugova to end their theatrical performances in front of the television
cameras and to finally demonstrate genuine readiness for concrete
action by engaging themselves in finding the criminals who committed
the massacres in Livadice, Gorazdevac, Obilic and yesterday's
double murder in Lipljan. Serb returnees do not need hypocritical
statements and smiles from Holkeri and Rugova, whose inertia and
benevolent attitude toward extremism are responsible for maintaining
the rule of ethnic terror in the southern Serbian province. Displaced
Serbs want to return to their homes but cannot accept the rule
of violence, Albanian chauvinism and terrorism which prevent the
Serb people as a whole, and especially its children, from enjoying
the most basic elements of a dignified and free life
Newsletter
21. February, 2004
Systematic
Destruction of Orthodox Churches and Cemeteries Continued in 2003
What
has been the result of NATO military occupation of the Serbian
province of Kosovo-Metohija? Kosovo Ombudsman Merek Nowicki announced
the findings of his investigations on December 19, 2002. Nowicki
concluded that Kosovo might become a "black hole" of
human rights in Europe. UN Resolution 1244 was not being followed.
Nowicki concluded that UNMIK was "not respecting human rights
regulations established by international community." He found
that the remaining Kosovo Serbs lived in Holocaust-style ghettos
in Kosovo. The Serbian population has no human rights protections
and is under daily pressure to leave Kosovo. What has US/NATO/
KFOR done to allow for the return of the 240,000 Serbian refugees
expelled by the UCK in 1999? According to Nowicki, NATO and UNMIK
have done absolutely nothing: "The possibility of a Serb
return to urban areas is almost zero, because a minimum of conditions
for their return have not been secured."
Newsletter
20. February, 2004 - Second Edition
German
KFOR officially refuses to provide escort for monks, referring
them to UNMIK police
After
12 days of waiting for a response to a request for a military
escort to distribute humanitarian aid to Serbs in Prizren, German
KFOR finally sent a written notification referring the monks of
Holy Archangels Monastery to the UNMIK police. The German Army
has thus made it clear that it is not willing to provide protection
for the monks in carrying out their basic spiritual and humanitarian
work to meet the needs of the remaining Serbs in Prizren. There
has also been no change in the demeanor of German KFOR, which
is still refusing to provide the monastery with electrical power
from its generator and withholding food from the Orthodox priest
in Prizren, who is now being fed by the remaining Serbs despite
the fact that they themselves live on the very edge of existence.
Newsletter
20. February, 2004
Two
Serbs murdered in Lipljan
The
Diocese of Raska and Prizren has been warning on a daily basis
of a deterioration of the security situation which the result
not only of the existing ethnic terrorism on the part of the Albanians,
who have carried on their activities unhindered and unpunished
during the past five years despite the presence of the UN mission
and KFOR, but also of the unwillingness and unreadiness of international
forces to implement Resolution 1244 and carry out the mandate
they were deployed to carry out in Kosovo and Metohija.
Deputy
PM of Serbia Dr. Nebojsa Covic blamed KFOR and UNMIK for the murder,
emphasizing that their officials are falsely portraying the security
situation in Kosovo. "Who has the right to give false reports
to the UN Security Council on the security situation in Kosovo?
Who has the right to accuse monks for expressing their fear when
they say that the Kosovo Police Service cannot protect them?"
asked Covic.
Zlatomir
Kostic and Milijana Markovic murdered near Lipljan
The bodies of the victims were found near the fire station in
Lipljan on the outskirts of the city. According to the same sources,
they were ambushed and killed on a transit road while in Kostic's
automobile.
Diocese
of Raska and Prizren most strongly condemns murder in Lipljan
Oliver
Ivanovic - Murder in Lipljan a horrible and unjustifiable crime
Ivanovic said that UNMIK and KFOR are responsible for this latest
murder of Serbs, assessing that "by failing to do anything,
they made these crimes possible. They have not established law
and order in Kosovo nor solved previous crimes."
Covic
condemns Lipljan murder, slams UNMIK and KFOR
Covic blamed KFOR and UNMIK for the murder, emphasizing that their
officials are falsely portraying the security situation in Kosovo.
"Who has the right to give false reports to the UN Security
Council on the security situation in Kosovo? Who has the right
to accuse monks for expressing their fear when they say that the
Kosovo Police Service cannot protect them?" asked Covic.
IWPR
(UK)_Blood Feuds revive in unstable Kosovo
Honour killings are deeply rooted in Albanian society and were
given formal recognition in the collection of medieval tribal
laws known as the "Canon of Lekë Dukagjini". This
states that "if one man kills another, a male member of the
victim's family must respond in kind".
News
from Kosovo and Metohija, Feb 17-19, 2004
Newsletter
19. February, 2004
German
KFOR still not providing escorts for distribution of humanitarian
aid
Humanitarian
aid sent by the Coordinating Center for Kosovo and Metohija through
the Strpce Red Cross cannot be distributed to remaining Serbs
in Prizren due to reluctance of German KFOR to provide military
escorts. Bishop Artemije: A sorry example of collective punishment
of the Serb people that deeply compromises the peacekeeping mission
in Kosovo and Metohija.
Serb MPs boycott Kosovo parliament session due to nationalist
murals
"The Kosovo parliament is not just a parliament of Albanians.
We have our own very rich history," said Oliver Ivanovic,
the deputy speaker of the parliament and a senior member of the
Kosovo Serb coalition.
STRATFOR
U.S.: Balkan militants, leaky borders and Olympic games
Recent rumblings from the Balkans indicate the active presence
of Islamist militant groups. While such rumblings are nothing
new, the variety of high-level responses to them suggests something
is brewing in the Balkans.
Newsletter
18. February, 2004
Serbian
Patriarch, calls on Solana, Holkeri to protect Church interests
The Patriarch sent a letter to Solana and Holkeri following attempts
by the Kosovo ministry for education, science and technology to
obtain a decision from the Pristina municipal assembly confiscating
the right of the Serbian Orthodox Church to use a parcel of land
on which the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Savior,
still under construction, is located, as well as the lot foreseen
for the construction of the St. Sava Cultural Center.
Bishop
Artemije meets with U.S. General Beck
"Please do not ever withdraw your security checkpoints without
first talking to the Serbs," asked Bishop Artemije, explaining
that such decisions cannot be considered justified if the Serbs
feel fearful and insecurity upon KFOR's withdrawal. The U.S. general
explained that during the course of his mandate he regularly paid
attention to the interests of the local population in Kosovo,
and that he will recommend that his replacement do the same.
Holkeri
claims that reports on Holy Archangels' case are "unfounded"
The Diocese of Raska and Prizren is deeply disappointed by the
lack of understanding on the part of Mr. Holkeri, who has already
demonstrated at a recent session of the UN Security Council in
New York by his presentation of a highly biased report on the
situation in Kosovo and Metohija, that he yet another in a series
of international bureaucrats presenting inaccurate picture of
the real situation in the Province to protect his career and possibly
his very life.
Red
Cross brings food to monks in Holy Archangels Monastery
The Orthodox monastery near Prizren, whose remains have weathered
the passage of time for more than 650 years, and its monks have
been in the focus of public attention in the last several weeks
due to the decision of German KFOR to cease providing them with
assistance as a result of a protest by the monks after they were
attacked by a group of Albanians in Djakovica.
OSCE
official says U.S. falsified grounds for 1999 bombing of Serbia
Pellnas said he was certain the US had assisted secessionist guerrillas
in the province since 1998, and saw them as a future ally in a
ground assault on Belgrade. He said that former US president Bill
Clinton had imposed his policy on the international community
for dealing with Belgrade and Kosovo.
CHRONICLES:
George Soros postmodern villain - NGO's behold your God
Mr. Soros' peculiar moral values, political views, and ideological
preferences would be immaterial without the money that he can
spend promoting and imposing them. The bulk of that money-currently
estimated at not less than seven billion dollars-was earned in
the minus-sum game of currency and stock speculation, contributing
nothing to the creation of wealth and making millions of ordinary
people poorer in the process.
Newsletter
17. February, 2004
Removal
of KFOR checkpoints leads to ethnic cleansing of remaining Serbs
"The
decision of KFOR to remove their checkpoints in critical parts
of Kosovo will not only discourage the process of returns to these
areas, from which large numbers of Serbs were expelled after June
1999, but will lead to the complete departure of the remaining
Serb population which has survived here in recent years thanks
to the protection of KFOR forces," Bishop Artemije of Raska
and Prizren told the ERP KIM Info Service. "We are especially
concerned by the intention of gradually turning over the protection
of our most important holy shrines in Metohija to the KPS, which
we see on the example of Holy Archangels where KFOR escorts have
already been cancelled," said Bishop Artemije.
Former
KLA terrorist group arrested again for killing other Albanians
There
only remains a question how long will UNMIK and KFOR continue
to delude the public opinion in their countries by hiding from
them that the international money which is primarily intended
for building of democratic and multiethnic society goes into the
pockets of mafia clan leaders and terrorists who might soon launch
terrorist actions against their own benefactors. Having in mind
involvement of the U.S. and other intelligence services in training
Osama Bin Laden and his moujahedin in Afghanistan during the war
with Russians and bringing of moujaheddin to Bosnia to fight against
Bosnian Serbs the support of KLA during the war and the post-war
support of the KPC are nothing but continuation of the old wrong
policy of "making a pact with the devil", as Richard
Holbrooke would put it in his memoirs. Sooner or later any pact
with terrorism comes back as a boomerang.
Return
KFOR security checkpoints to Serb villages
The Diocese of Raska and Prizren most strongly protests this decision
by UNMIK and requests that the checkpoints be returned to the
entrances of Serb villages located in high risk zones. If these
decisions are not changed as quickly as possible, the consequences
will be enormous and will place KFOR in the direct function of
the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo and Metohija of its remaining Serbs.
UN
police arrest four Kosovo Albanian rebels (AP, Reuters, BETA)
The head of the United Nations mission in Kosovo has personally
informed Kosovo Albanian leaders of the arrest of seven members
of the Kosovo Protection Corps.
UN
prosecutor hurdles in Kosovo war crimes probe
In an exclusive interview to AFP, Del Ponte said she is working
on two investigations of ethnic Albanians accused of war crimes
in Kosovo during the 1998-99 war but that she had run into problems
due to the reluctance of the international community.
Macedonia:
The relatives will sue Ali Ahmeti for kidnapping
The relatives of kidnapped Macedonians from Tetovo region will
soon start a suit against the leader of the ruling Democratic
Union for Integration (DUI), Ali Ahmeti, and charge him for kidnapping
of their next of kin. According to Vreme's sources, four lawyers
from Skopje, whose names are kept secret, already consider the
case. When they are done, the criminal suit is to start before
the courts.
Ivanovic
says Kosovo Albanians delaying dialogue
Kosovo Serb MP Oliver Ivanovic has accused ethnic Albanian leaders
in the province of trying to delay the resumption of dialogue
between Belgrade and Pristina.
Skenderbey
smiles from the walls
I talked with Holkeri about this ceremony earlier, before we sent
the letter, and I told him that the pictures do not express the
multiethnicity toward which we are striving, and that the pictures
worsen the feelings of the other ethnic community. In that case
we are expecting in the pictures to be Milos Obilic, Marko Kraljevic
and other Serbian national heroes, or they have to be neutral",
said Ivanovic.
News
from Kosovo and Metohija, Feb 16, 2004
Newsletter
16. February, 2004
Serbs
from Miroc village leave their homes in Kosovo
Serbs
from the village of Miroc (pronounced Miroch) in the Kosovo municipality
of Vucitrn (Vuchitrn) left their homes this morning due to the
removal of the KFOR security checkpoint in their village, sources
in Kosovo informed Beta news agency. At the same time the local
Kosovo institutions continue with their discriminatory policy
against Kosovo Serbs. Kosovo Parliament, dominated by ethnic Albanians
refused to remove pictures of mono-ethnic contents despite requests
of UNMIK chief Holkeri, Klina Municipality still obstructs the
return of Serbs, while Kosovo PM keeps finding excuses to avoid
continuation of dialogue with Belgrade authorities. As in previous
weeks Kosovo Albanian institutions show that Kosovo Standards
plan is just a dead letter on the paper. In reality Kosovo institutions
work on building of mono-ethnic society tailored for ethnic Albanians
only.
Serbs
from village Miroc in Kosovo leave their homes
Serbs from the village of Miroc (pronounced Miroch) in the Kosovo
municipality of Vucitrn (Vuchitrn) left their homes this morning
due to the removal of the KFOR security checkpoint in their village,
sources in Kosovo informed Beta news agency.
Monks
of Holy Archangels Monastery reject escorts by UNMIK police and
KPS
The monks of Holy Archangels Monastery near Prizren "presently
will not accept any services" by UNMIK police and the Kosovo
Police Service (KPS) in providing security for the brotherhood
and the monastery itself because they are not considered sufficiently
ready for this task, Hieromonk Benedict told Beta news agency.
Kosovo
Parliament refuses to remove pictures of monoethnic contents
UNMIK chief Harri Holkeri will not attend the opening of the renovated
auditorium of the Kosovo parliament if pictures of "monoethnic
content" are not removed from its walls, said UNMIK spokeswoman
Isabella Karlowicz on Friday. Kosovo parliament official Ramush
Tahiri stated today that the controversial pictures will not be
removed from the renovated auditorium of the parliament as requested
by UNMIK chief Harri Holkeri, who had objected to their monoethnic
content.
Kosovo
PM rules out talks with Coordination Center
Belgrade's Coordination Centre for Kosovo cannot take part in
the upcoming dialogue between the authorities in Belgrade and
Pristina, Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi insisted today.
News
from Kosovo and Metohija, February 13-15, 2004
Newsletter
15. February, 2004, Special Edition
Bishop
Artemije at the Russian Orthodox Church in Washington D.C.
During
his visit to the United States from Jan 28 - Feb 12, 2004 His
Grace Bishop Artemije visited the Russian Orthodox cathedral of
St. John the Baptist in Washington D.C. and spoke to the congregation
about the suffering of the Orthodox church and Christians in Kosovo
and Metohija despite the presence of NATO led peacekeepers and
the UN mission. In this special edition on this event ERP KIM
Info-service is enclosing the introductory text by Rev. Fr. Victor
Potapov, the parish priest at St. John the Baptist Cathedral,
as well as the full transcript of the speech by Bishop (Vladyka)
Artemije on the situation in which the Serbian Orthodox Church
in Kosovo and Metohija lives today.
We
would like to thank to Fr. Victor for granting us these texts
and photos as well as for his continuous support of our suffering
Church and Christians in Kosovo and Metohija in the last several
years.
"Crucified
Kosovo" - Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren in Washington
D.C.
A reception was held on Monday evening, February 2, in the Parish
Hall of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Washington DC,
for His Grace the Most-reverend Artemije, Bishop of Raska and
Prizren, of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Addressing an audience
that filled the hall to overflowing, His Grace told of the current
state of the Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohija. Accompanying
Vladyka were his secretary, Hieromonk Symeon, and Abbot Vasily,
Father Superior of the Sopocani Monastery. The day before his
talk, Vladyka attended and prayed at the Divine Liturgy in the
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. At the conclusion of the service,
he greeted the faithful, bestowing upon each his hierarchical
blessing and, as a memento, giving each person a little icon of
St. Savva.
Bishop
Artemije's speech: Current situation in the Orthodox Church in
Kosovo
These new crimes against the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, especially
the attacks against Serbian holy places, make it clear to anyone
who has eyes to see with that the situation in the Kosovo region
has not improved at all, and that the Serbs and their holy places
are still objects of open persecution and terrorist activities.
And all this is taking place in the presence and under the administration
of the United Nations forces. After this brief review of facts
it should be clear that the prospects for survival of the Serbs
in Kosovo and Metohija, and particularly the prospects for the
return of those banished from the region, are very poor. The fact
that the region of Kosovo and Metohija is in the state of complete
chaos was recently pointed out by the Kosovo ombudsman Marek Anthony
Novicky. In his official report on human and civil rights submitted
in Pristina he says that as regards the respect for human rights
Kosovo is still the "black hole" of Europe and the entire
world. Nevertheless, UNMIK continues to ignore the facts on which
this statement was founded.
Newsletter
15. February, 2004
Albanian
Terrorism and Organized Crime in Kosovo and Metohija (K&M)
Security
Information Agency (BIA), Belgrade, Sep 2003
We are enclosing an introductory part of a comprehensive report
of the Belgrade based Security Information Agency (BIA) on ethnic
Albanian terrorism and organized crime in Kosovo. The report was
first published in Serbian in September 2003 and has been also
republished by some Serbian media since then. The full zipped
MS Word text of the report with names and biographies of 156 Kosovo
Albanian extremists and terrorists responsible for many crimes
during the conflict with Serbian Security forces in 1998-1999
as well as in the post-conflict period (1999-2003) is available
at:
http://www.geocities.com/amarant1200/alb_ter.zip
(262 KB)
Newsletter
14. February, 2004
Brinkmann
ordered food to be thrown away rather than to be shared with a
Serbian priest who cannot buy it
Modern
Persecution of Christians - Bundeswehr denies Serbian monks protection
from Albanian terrorists
Junge
Welt
February 9, 2004
If
KFOR no longer supports the Serbs with food, electricity and escorts,
they are turned over to Albanian extremists who thrive on destruction.
Since the deployment of KFOR in June 1999, they have destroyed
30 churches and monasteries just in the German sector, 100 throughout
Kosovo, many of them irreplaceable monuments with frescoes from
the early Middle Ages. "None of the offenders has ever been
brought before the court, and there is not even proof that actual
inquiries were ever conducted," criticizes the Diocese.
Newsletter
14. February, 2004
Panorama:
Prisoners of Peace
They
are increasingly fewer in number, increasingly poorer, exposed
to increasingly greater threats. This is how Serbs live in the
area administered by the UN. Where the conflict with the Albanians
never really ended. And where, even after Milosevic, the nightmare
of ethnic cleansing is coming back. But in the reverse direction....
writes Francesca Folda in the most recent article on Kosovo in
the Italian magazine Panorama.
PANORAMA.IT:
Prisoners of peace
They are increasingly fewer in number, increasingly poorer, exposed
to increasingly greater threats. This is how Serbs live in the
area administered by the UN. Where the conflict with the Albanians
never really ended. And where, even after Milosevic, the nightmare
of ethnic cleansing is coming back. But in the reverse direction.
Dagens
Nyheter: A naive trust in a U.S. created myth about genocide
The U.S. justified the bombing of Serbia with claims of expulsion
and murders in Kosovo. Such propaganda should have been questioned
but this never occurred; instead, Sweden demonstrated, by its
support for war, that we do not care about human rights but instead
adjust to the positions of the major EU countries. The situation
in Kosovo in March 1999 offered no reason for any sort of war.
Sweden is critical of Bush and his Iraqi campaign while Clinton's
actions are viewed with approval. However, both presidents manipulated
the truth to a great extent, writes Balkans peace negotiator,
colonel and OSCE representative in Belgrade Bo Pellnas.
Guardian
UK: The Milosevic trial is a travesty
Terrible crimes were committed in the Balkans during the 90s and
it is right that those responsible are held accountable in a court
of law. But the Hague tribunal, a blatantly political body set
up and funded by the very NATO powers that waged an illegal war
against Milosevic's Yugoslavia four years ago - and that has refused
to consider the prima facie evidence that western leaders were
guilty of war crimes in that conflict - is clearly not the vehicle
to do so
Epoka
e re: Scandal on 15kg drugs in Rugova's office
This event is not only connected to LDK, but the person itself
is an LDK official in Pristina, a close associate with the LDK
spokesperson, Lulzim Zeneli, Ukë Rugova, and Ibrahim Rugova
himself. The latter, is trying hard to avoid facing the citizens
of Kosovo or the journalists he does not control and as a result
of this, important or not, he is traveling outside Kosovo in party
meetings with European or Balkans (and Serbian) sister parties,
while presenting these visits in a different way in Kosovo. Our
source believes that the drugs scandal is the main reason Rugova
avoided facing the deputies of Kosovo and did not report about
the two year work.
BETA:
Oliver Ivanovic asks for help for Serb monks and villagers
"We agreed that the situation the monks are in now is alarming
and that it is unacceptable that they cannot visit the Orthodox
people remaining in the Prizren area," said Ivanovic.
Covic
meets with Kathy Stevens, William Montgomery
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Coordinating Centre
for Kosovo-Metohija Nebojsa Covic met on Thursday with Assistant
to the US Secretary of State for southeast European issues Kathy
Stevens and US Ambassador to Serbia-Montenegro William Montgomery
to discuss the situation in Kosovo-Metohija and the upcoming dialogue
of Belgrade and Pristina.
News
from Kosovo and Metohija, Feb 12, 2004
Newsletter
13. February, 2004
Kosovo
Serbs alarmed with reduction of KFOR troops
For many Serb returnees and monastic communities KFOR protection
is the only guarantee of security particularly in zones of increased
security risk. Their withdrawal and handing over of protection
and escorts to Albanian dominated Kosovo police or largely inadequately
trained UNMIK police would finally destroy these last places of
refuge and worship which have survived so far amidst the ethnic
Albanian expansion and violence (KFOR troops guarding monastery
at Budisavci, nr. Klina)
EDITORIAL
by Fr. Sava Janjic
Wrong
steps in wrong time
If
KFOR continues with the present practice of further reduction
of troops on expense of security of the local population, primarily
Serbs but also other vulnerable minorities, it will be very hard
to expect some promising results from the process of returns this
year. Hardly any displaced Serb family would decide to return
to an area in which security depends now on those who expelled
them five years ago or on UNMIK police which is incapable of bringing
to justice perpetrators of at least one major ethnically motivated
crime after the conflict.
Kurir
daily: KFOR abandons Serbs
Serbs from the Kosovo villages of Miroca and Slatina have left
their centuries-old homes in fear for their very lives after members
of Greek KFOR left these villages about two weeks ago and the
Kosovo Police Service assumed policing duties.
Serb
house in Vitina set on fire - no casualties
Locals say this is the third arson attempt against the Piric house,
the only remaining Serb home in Milosa Obilica Street in Vitina.
Coalition
POVRATAK objects to Standards implementation plan
Serbian Coalition Povratak (Return) deputies in the Kosovo parliament
have adopted a document containing objections to the Kosovo standards
implementation plan, which they plan to forward to international
community officials in the province.
Covic
says Belgrade ready for Kosovo dialogue
"I'm happy to hear they are eager to resume the dialogue,
since after wasting much time we're finally going to start resolving
the everyday problems facing the citizens of Kosovo," said
Covic.
News
from Kosovo and Metohija, February 10-11
Report from the JUNGE WELT, Berlin, about the latest measures
of German KFOR against the brotherhood of the Holy Archangels
monastery in Prizren
Moderne
Christenverfolgung - Bundeswehr entzieht serbischen Moenchen Shutz
vor albanischen Terroiristen
Wenn
die KFOR die Serben nicht mehr mit Lebensmitteln, Elektrizität
und Eskorten unterstützt, sind sie albanischen Gewalttätern
auf Gedeih und Verderb ausgeliefert. Diese haben seit Stationierung
der KFOR im Juni 1999 30 Kirchen und Klöster allein im deutschen
Sektor zerstört, 100 im gesamten Kosovo, darunter viele unersetzliche
Baudenkmäler mit Fresken aus dem frühen Mittelalter.
»Keiner der Täter ist je vor Gericht gebracht worden,
und es gibt nicht einmal einen Beweis, daß überhaupt
Ermittlungen angestellt wurden«, kritisiert die Diözese.
Newsletter
12. February, 2004
Joseph
Grieboski: Human rights in Kosovo - a catastrophe
Almost
five years ago, the United States led NATO into a war to liberate
the peoples of Kosovo-Metohija from the oppression of Slobodan
Milosevic's regime. Five years later, Kosovo's Serbian Orthodox
have become second-class citizens in their own country, deprived
of their basic human rights. Under the eye of tens of thousands
of NATO troops, including Americans, over 115 churches and monasteries
have been leveled _ more than half dating back to the Middle Ages;
priceless frescos and icons have been desecrated; monks and priests
have been attacked as they walk the streets of now-ethnically
pure Albanian cities and towns.
A
Multi-ethnic Kosovo: Diplomatic dream or Balkan reality
Remarks by His Grace Bishop Artemije of Kosovo and Metohija (full
transcript of the Bishop's lecture at the Western Policy Center
on January 29, 2004 and the follow-up discussion)
Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Serbian Bishop here on a mission from Kosovo
He called Kosovo "an open wound that continues to bleed."
He cited an Amnesty International report from last year, which
said that Serbs and other ethnic minorities are prisoners in their
own homes and at constant risk of beatings, stabbings, drive-by
shootings, hand grenade attacks and kidnappings.
Joseph
Greboski: Human rights in Kosovo - a catastrophe
From the beginning of the war till this very day, thousands of
Serbs have been killed, and the Orthodox Serbs who have remained
there, live in ghettos and are exposed to segregation, President
of the Institute for religious and public policy Joseph Greboski
said at a Tuesday Congress debate on religious freedoms in the
world.
POVRATAK:
Demand for real return of Serbs
"We would demand to be clearly stated that this document
is not a way for independence for Kosovo and Metohija, as well
as not to be taken in consideration to precisely identify who
is in charge of the evaluation of the implementation of the ‘Standards
for Kosovo’", emphasized Krstovic the chief of the
parliamentarian group of the coalition POVRATAK.
Kosovo
Ombudsman urges KFOR to return checkpoints
In a letter to KFOR commander Holger Kammerhoff, Nowicki expressed
concern that Serb villagers felt insecure without the checkpoints,
adding that there are no adequate telephone services in the villages
and the residents would be unable to seek help in any emergency
situations.
Coordinating
Center calls for Serb participation in the working groups
Coordinating Centre for Kosovo-Metohija's justice and human rights
division head Vladimir Bozovic said that local Serbs should take
part in working groups for the Kosovo standards implementation,
stressing that any other approach would mean discrimination of
the Serb community.
Racak
case in focus again
Covic emphasized that this event needs to be fully clarified because
Racak was the 'prime motivation" for the bombing of FRY.
"It is our duty to cast full light on events in connection
with Racak and to demand responsibility of the 'prime participant'
of that event, William Walker . . . Walker cannot go unpunished...
If the people in the Hague tribunal are there for violating the
law, then bombing a country is also a war crime," said Covic.
Trial
of former Albanian rebel leader to begin in Kosovo
A former ethnic Albanian rebel leader charged with kidnapping
and attempted extortion is due to go on trial before a United
Nations court in eastern Kosovo on Tuesday.
The
speech of Serbia-Montenegro Ambassador at the UN SC Meeting, Feb
6
We are enclosing the full transcript of the speech by the SM representative
at the UN SC - Ambassador Perovic at the UN SC meeting on Kosovo,
February 6
Newsletter
08. February, 2004
Serbs
from Brezovica and Sredacka Zupa embittered by behavior of German
KFOR toward brotherhood of Holy Archangels near Prizren
"This
development involving the monastery is just further proof that
the international community lacks the courage to confront reality
in Kosovo and Metohija, which is that the Albanian majority does
not want Serbs living next to it. The main problem is that such
behavior is tolerated. And if the international community continues
to keep its eyes shut to this reality, it will not be able to
escape responsibility for having participated in the expulsion
of the Serb people from Kosovo," stated Strpce mayor Sladjan
Ilic during a visit to Holy Archangels.
German
KFOR still depriving Serbs of their basic religious rights
"This development involving the monastery is just further
proof that the international community lacks the courage to confront
reality in Kosovo and Metohija, which is that the Albanian majority
does not want Serbs living next to it. The main problem is that
such behavior is tolerated. And if the international community
continues to keep its eyes shut to this reality, it will not be
able to escape responsibility for having participated in the expulsion
of the Serb people from Kosovo," stated Strpce mayor Sladjan
Ilic during a visit to Holy Archangels.
CNS:
Atrocities continue against Serbs in Kosovo, Orthodox Bishop Says,
"When a Serb goes beyond the enclave, he runs the risk of
being killed or being kidnapped," the bishop said in a speech
at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington. The Feb. 4 event was sponsored
by the Institute on Religion and Public Policy.
Holkeri
calls for Belgrade - Pristina dialogue to resolve fate of the
missing
Real progress this year calls for further improvement in safety
conditions and the freedom of movement in the province, said Holkeri,
adding that progress will also depend on how much effort Kosovo
people and leaders are willing to put into supporting a sustainable
return. At the same time, the process also calls for a constructive
position of Belgrade authorities and continuing engagement of
the international community, he noted.
Cleric asks for U.S., international action to stop violence
In the nearly five years since the war in Kosovo ended, many hospitals,
streets and mosques have been rebuilt in the U.N.- run province.
But the benefits have flowed to ethnic Albanians, while minority
Serbs have been the victims of ethnic cleansing by Albanian extremists,
according to the Serbian Orthodox bishop of Kosovo.
Macedonia:
Bowing down to UCK is our "ticket" home
"Unknown persons, usually wearing a mask, force us to bow
before memorials and Albanians flags. To go into the villages
of Matejche we must pass through Opae, Orizare, Lipkovo and Otlja,
which are inhabited only by Albanians, because there's no other
way. In Orizare, there is a memorial for Ismet Jashari, a member
of UCK who was killed in Kosovo. In Otlja, a museum has been made
for dead members of UCK. Only with the accompaniment of the OSCE
can I see my own home. If going alone, a person stops us on the
road to 'check our papers.'"
Growing
Islamic fundamentalism in Raska region (Sandzak) of Serbia
Islam as their religion, Bosniac nationality as their national
choice, and Sandzak as their homeland. Such positions by the Islamic
community of Sandzak are supported by the Muslim active youth,
the Wahabist movement, some humanitarian organizations from Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Generous financial assistance
is being provided through Islamic NGOs from Western countries,
and they also have close connections with some Arab countries
where fundamentalist Islamic ideology predominates. On the ground,
the coordinator of all activities is the Islamic religious community
in Sandzak, whose leadership also includes a number of "instructors"
from Arab countries.
News
from Kosovo and Metohija, February 6-7, 2004
Newsletter
07. February, 2004 - Second Edition
Serbs
will not participate in working groups
"I
got the feeling that the standards are a list of wishes, "train
without training schedule, but despite the promise that there
will be a better tomorrow, nobody can guaranty the Serbs that
the standards are precondition for independence of Kosovo. Maybe
there is the answer why there are not Serbian envoys in the working
groups for implementation of the standards. Holkeri_s document,
as Dragisa says, is not predicted who will determine if Kosovo
passed the exam of democracy and multiethnicity in 2005".
Behavior
of German KFOR towards Monastery of Holy Archangels still unchanged
"Perhaps the Lt. Colonel Brinkmann should become aware that
the German army in Kosovo has not come to exercise reprisals against
the Serbian Orthodox Church and the religious rights of its faithful
but to be of assistance particularly to vulnerable communities.
30 of our churches have been destroyed in the area of their military
control and for more than four years no one of them has shown
a minimum of responsibility and compassion but even want to leave
us completely in the hands of Albanian extremists", said
Fr. Herman.
Serbs
will not participate in working groups
"I got the feeling that the standards are a list of wishes,
"train without training schedule, but despite the promise
that there will be a better tomorrow, nobody can guaranty the
Serbs that the standards are precondition for independence of
Kosovo. Maybe there is the answer why there are not Serbian envoys
in the working groups for implementation of the standards. Holkeri_s
document, as Dragisa says, is not predicted who will determine
if Kosovo passed the exam of democracy and multiethnicity in 2005".
Parallel
institutions exist out of need
Provisional self-governing institutions do not want to and UNMIK
is not capable of creating conditions for involvement of Serbs
in the political life in Kosmet, Serbia and Montenegro Deputy
Foreign Minister, Zeljko Perovic stated at the UN Security Council
session dedicated to the situation in the Province.
No
conditions for Serb political integration in Kosovo
A senior federal official told the UN Security Council today that
the interim Kosovo institutions had refused to create the conditions
for the integration of the Serbian community into Kosovo's political
life.
Vitina
- fear forces them to flee from their centuries old homes
"We live in fear. The only lucky thing in our misfortune
is that the KFOR troops are here near the church. They have a
permanent security checkpoint and since we are right next to them
we feel a little safer. Otherwise we would have to leave. We don't
have the feeling of security that people have who are living normal
lives," said Gordana Tajic, who lives in Kosovska Vitina
with her husband Dragan and their two sons. Her family owns a
lot of land nearby but they still do not dare plant crops as a
result of frequent attacks and provocations by their Albanian
neighbors.
Newsletter
07. February, 2004
Bishop
Artemije: Serious human and religious rights violations in Kosovo
continue despite UN protectorate
"Albanian
leaders are stubbornly continuing to misrepresent the situation
in the southern Serbian province to cover up their own lack of
willingness to build a truly multiethnic society. Just as Milosevic
at one time maintained loyal representatives of national minorities,
some of whom he even sent to Rambouillet, so today Albanian leaders
have so-called representatives of Kosovo minorities who generally
represent only their own interests or that of a small circle of
people who enjoy certain privileges from the Albanians. What has
happened to the Roma, Gorani and Bosniac communities in Kosovo
and Metohija can best be attested to by those who are still banished
and unable to return to their burned and robbed homes. Roma and
Goranis especially have been persecuted to the point where they
are threatened with complete disappearance unless their rights
are protected," said Bishop Artemije
Bishop
Artemije in New York, Cleveland and Chicago
Bishop Artemije: The fact that Roma, Goranis, Bosniacs and other
communities, as well as Serbs, are being expelled shows that what
is occurring is not revenge after the war, but the continuation
of the old Albanian strategy from during the period of autonomy
to create an ethnically pure state of Kosovo by expelling the
non-Albanians, which will serve as the basis for pan-Albanian
territorial unification in the Balkans.
The
world knows and is silent
This visit to Washington D.C. one of the most successful. Europe
more vocal in protesting the destruction of the statues of Buddha
in Afghanistan that the destruction of Christian holy shrines
in the heart of Europe
Covic
urges KFOR to help monks in Prizren
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Coordinating Centre
for Kosovo-Metohija Nebojsa Covic urged today the KFOR Commanding
Officer, German General Holger Kammerhof, to secure protection
for a monk brotherhood of the Sveti Arhandjeli monastery near
Prizren and enable them to perform their services for the Serbs
who have remained in the regions of Prizren and Djakovica.
News
from Kosovo and Metohija, February 4-5, 2004
Newsletter
06. February, 2004
Bishop
Artemije attends National Prayer Breakfast with U.S. president
in - Diocese rejects claim by the KFOR spokesperson
The
Bishop emphasized that the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and
Metohija is prevented from functioning normally and that because
of the poor security situation it is essential that endangered
holy shrines remain under the protection of KFOR. "Without
KFOR escorts the lives of my monks in most of the monasteries
in Kosovo and Metohija would be impossible and the international
community must not allow this," emphasized Bishop Artemije
in talks with eminent U.S. congressmen and senators.
Bishop
Artemije attends National Prayer Breakfast with President Bush
The Bishop emphasized that the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo
and Metohija is prevented from functioning normally and that because
of the poor security situation it is essential that endangered
holy shrines remain under the protection of KFOR. "Without
KFOR escorts the lives of my monks in most of the monasteries
in Kosovo and Metohija would be impossible and the international
community must not allow this," emphasized Bishop Artemije
in talks with eminent U.S. congressmen and senators.
Diocese
of Raska and Prizren rejects claim by KFOR spokesman Chris Thompson
It is the firm position of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren that
the statement of the KFOR spokesman not only contradicts the existing
situation on the ground but represents an open threat to the Serbian
Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohija. Following the unprecedented
behavior of German KFOR in Prizren, Bishop Artemije spoke about
this problem today before representatives of the U.S. Congress,
stating that the security situation for the Church has not improved
at all and that the Church is exposed not only to attacks by Albanian
extremists but lack of understanding and inhumane relations on
the part of individual representatives of German KFOR.
APIS:
Balkans targeted by Albanian terrorists
How a country is being created by the use of force - Terrorist
actions in Montenegro to be carried out by ANA "division"
based in Skadar, not by local Albanians
News
from Kosovo and Metohija, February 3 - 5
UNMIK bans new place names in Kosovo - Holkeri to call Kosovo
elections for autumn - More than ten ANA leaders arrested - No
response from UNMIK to Belgrade claims - Belgrade must take part
in drafting, implementation of Kosovo Standards - Flash News from
Kosovo and Metohija (Feb 1-3)
Newsletter
03. February, 2004
Monks
of Holy Archangels Monastery pressured by German KFOR after reporting
truth about Djakovica incident
Bishop
Artemije: "I am horrified by this treatment of my monks.
Such behavior on the part of the German military contingent is
leading to the complete expulsion of the Orthodox Church from
this region where it remained and survived for centuries, even
during Turkish occupation."
The
Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija expresses its sharpest
protest against the intolerant behavior of German KFOR toward
monks of the Monastery of Holy Archangels near Prizren.
Printer
friendly version of this report in PDF with all photos is available
at:
http://www.kosovo.net/archangels_report.pdf
Following
the incident in Djakovica on January 21, 2004 when a group of
about 30 Albanians attacked a German KFOR vehicle transporting
monks of the Holy Archangels Monastery and a German TV crew filming
the ruins of the Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity in the center
of town, the life of the monks of the only remaining monastery
in the area of responsibility of German KFOR has gotten much worse.
KFOR escorts for the monastery have been discontinued with the
explanation that all future escorts must be requested from Albanians
in the Kosovo Police Service. The monks are no longer able to
use the German military electrical generator they have been using
until now, and the Orthodox priest on duty in the Bishop's residence
in Prizren is being denied food.
Newsletter
02. February, 2004
Bishop
Artemije: No participation to the detriment of Serbia's sovereignty
"The
Serb community in Kosovo and Metohija wants a free and dignified
love but it cannot accept the offer of some sort of abstract "minority
rights" in exchange for Serbian sovereignty in a society
being tailored by Kosovo Albanians exclusively for their own needs
and interests. The Standards for Kosovo document, which practically
negates the essential elements of sovereignty of Serbia-Montenegro
and Resolution 1244, fundamentally prejudices the secession of
the southern Serbian province; consequently, this plan must be
revised before it can be accepted by the Serb side," said
Bishop Artemije for the ERP KIM Info Service from Washington D.C.
In the following days the Bishop will have several meetings with
U.S. Congressmen and will visit the UN HQ in New York.
Bishop
Artemije meets US State Department Officials
"Our further participation in institutions now depends exclusively
on the attitude of the international community which needs to
offer something concrete, visible and measurable for our people.
Otherwise, our participation in the institutions will only serve
to push more Serbs out of Kosovo and Metohija. We are willing
to participate only if this ensures the survival of the Serb people,
not to legitimize the provisional institutions. We truly cannot
continue in that direction," said Bishop Artemije during
a meeting with State Department officials
Annan criticizes Kosovo Parliament on Minorities
The Assembly "is once again refusing to take into account
legitimate minority concerns in the legislative process, [and
is] overstepping its competencies," Annan said in a report
to the UN Security Council.
UN
News: UN report paints mixed picture on Kosovo's provisional institutions
The record of achievements by Kosovo's Provisional Institutions
is mixed, with progress apparently stalled in some areas, United
Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in a new document made
public today. In a report to the Security Council on the activities
of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Mr.
Annan calls for Kosovo's leaders and institutions to uphold the
values of multi-ethnicity, tolerance and equal rights for all
communities.
Al
Qaida Active in Kosovo - Claim Serbs
"We have information that al Qaida has strongholds in Kosovo,
northern Albania ... and that they are active in western Macedonia,"
Stojanovic, the head of the Military Security Agency of Serbia-Montenegro's
army, said. All areas are heavily populated by ethnic Albanians,
who are mostly Muslims.
Massive
heroin haul on Albanian border
Florian Seriani said 30 kilograms was confiscated on Friday morning
in Morina, five kilometres from the border. The stash was hidden
in a car boot with a false bottom. The car had Albanian licence
plates and was coming from the direction of Kosovo, said Seriani.
News
from Kosovo and Metohija, January 31
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