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August 08,
2003
ERP KIM Newsletter
08-08-03
CONTENTS:
 DIOCESE
OF RASKA-PRIZREN SUPPORTS GUIDELINES FOR KOSOVO BY DR. COVIC
The guidelines
proposed by Dr. Covic represent a very important basis for the drafting of
a Declaration on Kosovo and Metohija to be adopted by the
Serbia-Montenegro Parliament and the Republic of Serbia Parliament, and
the building of a broader platform for the resolution of the Kosovo and
Metohija problem within the institutional framework of the Republic of
Serbia as soon as possible.
DRAFT
DECLARATION ON KOSOVO AND METOHIJA NEXT WEEK
Kostunica
told media that the declaration put an emphasis on human rights, adding
that issues such as decentralisation could not be resolved until human
rights regulations were in place.
CROWN
PRINCE ALEXANDER II OF SERBIA SUPPORTS BISHOP ARTEMIJE
With great
pleasure I read your statement on Kosovo and Metohija situation. I
sincerely You for the words of wisdom and courage that all of need in this
moment. I completely share Your vision about possibility of the shared
life in Kosovo and Metohija with the mutual respect all citizens
regardless of their ethnical or religious background.
INDEPENDENT
(UK) KLA LINK SUSPECTED IN UN POLICE MURDER
The killing
has caused alarm as it follows recent attacks on symbols of law and order
after the conviction of four ex-KLA members on war crimes charges. The
men, who were sentenced to a total of 45 years, were found guilty of
offences including torture, kidnapping and the inhuman treatment of
civilians during the Kosovo conflict in 1998 and 1999.
THREE
KOSOVO ALBANIANS ARRESTEN IN CONNECTION WITH UN POLICEMAN MURDER
Three Kosovo-Albanians
have been arrested by an UNMIK special police unit and KFOR troops in
connection with the murder of Indian UN police major Satish Menon.
SERB
IN EASTERN PART OF KOSOVO BEATEN BY ALBANIANS
Pavic was attacked
while he was looking after his livestock on a meadow near the village.
After first aid assistance by his neighbors Pavic was moved to a hospital
in Vranje where he was held in for medical treatment. The assailants fled
the scene.
UN
ADMINISTRATION IN KOSOVO ACCUSED OF INDIFFERENCE FOR "ANA" PLANS
In the announcement
signed by Milan Ivanovic, the president of the SNV, this council warns
that this kind of stances can have "tragic consequences". "Even every
politically ignorant person from Northern Kosovo is clear" with the fact
that ANA has the goal of cutting of Kosovska Mitrovica-Leposavic
communication, "so that they could cause panic and fear among the Serbs
from this homogenous Serb region," states the SNV.
"UNMIK
OCCUPIERS OUT" - GRAFFITO ON DJAKOVICA MUNICIPAL BUILDING
Early on Wednesday morning,
unidentified individuals wrote anti-UNMIK graffito on the building of
Djakovica Municipal Building where UNMIK Administration led by John Rogers
has its offices.
OLIVER
IVANOVIC CALLS FOR DISBANDING OF CPC
On Wednesday, Oliver
Ivanovic, a member of the Kosovo parliament presiding body, called on the
international community to disband the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC)
because of its "participation in many tragedies that have happened in
Kosovo in the past four years".
More News
Available on our:
KOSOVO DAILY
NEWS LIST (KDN)
KDN Archive
This newsletter is available on our
ERP KIM Web-site:
/erpkiminfo.html
A
DIOCESE OF RASKA AND
PRIZREN FULLY SUPPORTS THE GUIDELINES FOR KOSOVO AND METOHIJA OF DR.
NEBOJSA COVIC
PARTICIPATION OF SNC KIM
REPRESENTATIVES IN ZUBIN POTOK MEETING WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AND
BLESSING OF BISHOP ARTEMIJE
TOP
ERP KIM
Info Service
Gracanica, August 06, 2003
In its public communiqué
issued today the Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija completely
distances itself from the joint statement of both Serb National Councils
(SNCs), the Union of Serb Municipalities and the Serbian Resistance
Movement (SPOT) issued two days ago rejecting the Basic Guidelines for
Resolving the Kosovo Issue proposed by Coordinating Center for Kosovo and
Metohija head Dr. Nebojsa Covic and asking for his
resignation.
The meeting
of representatives of these organizations was held in Zubin Potok without
the knowledge and blessing of Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren, the
president of the Serb National Council of Kosovo and Metohija, and
decisions made there do not express the position of the Diocese of Raska
of Raska and Prizren, nor the official position of the Serb National
Council of Kosovo and Metohija, says the Diocese in its
statement.
The Diocese of
Raska and Prizren wholeheartedly supports the Basic Guidelines for Kosovo
and Metohija, and the activities of Dr. Nebojsa Covic and the Coordinating
Center on behalf of the Church and its faithfull, and appeals to Kosovo and Metohija Serb leaders to direct their
activities toward the goal of achieving all-Serb unity and mutual
cooperation.
With the
blessing of His Eminence the Bishop of Raska and Prizren Artemije, we
include the whole text of the public communiqué:
SERBIAN ORTHODOX DIOCESE OF
RASKA-PRIZREN
AND KOSOVO-METOHIJA
PUBLIC
COMMUNIQUE
The Diocese of
Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija completely distances itself
from the joint statement of both Serb National Councils (SNCs), the Union
of Serb Municipalities and the Serbian Resistance Movement (SPOT) issued
two days ago rejecting the Basic Guidelines for Resolving the Kosovo Issue
proposed by Coordinating Center for Kosovo and Metohija head Dr. Nebojsa
Covic and asking for his resignation.
This meeting was held in Zubin Potok without the
knowledge and blessing of Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren, the
president of the Serb National Council of Kosovo and Metohija, and
decisions made there do not express the position of the Diocese of Raska
of Raska and Prizren, nor the official position of the Serb National
Council of Kosovo and Metohija.
The Diocese of Raska and
Prizren wholeheartedly supports the Basic Guidelines of Serbian deputy
prime minister Dr. Nebojsa Covic, as well as the great efforts that the
Coordinating Center and he personally are making for the good of the
Church and the Serb people in this region.
The guidelines
proposed by Dr. Covic represent a very important basis for the drafting of
a Declaration on Kosovo and Metohija to be adopted by the
Serbia-Montenegro Parliament and the Republic of Serbia Parliament, and
the building of a broader platform for the resolution of the Kosovo and
Metohija problem within the institutional framework of the Republic of
Serbia as soon as possible.
As well, the
Diocese of Raska-Prizren appeals to the representatives of the Kosovo and
Metohija Serbs to direct their activities toward the goal of achieving
all-Serb unity and mutual cooperation, emphasizing the position of the
Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church from August 4, 2003
that "neither Kosovo and Metohija nor the Serbian Orthodox Church can be
used and abused in political clashes."
The Serbian Orthodox Church
will continue to support every constructive political initiative with the
goal of ensuring the survival of the Serb people and the preservation of
Orthodox Christian holy shrines in this region, as it has done in the
past.
Office of the Orthodox Diocese of
Raska-Prizren and
Kosovo-Metohija
August 6, 2003
Gracanica
Monastery
TOP
DRAFT
DECLARATION ON KOSOVO AND METOHIJA NEXT WEEK
Kostunica told media
that the declaration put an emphasis on human rights, adding that issues
such as decentralisation could not be resolved until human rights
regulations were in place.
TOP
SRNA
News Agency, Bijeljina
August 7, 2003
BELGRADE -- Thursday - The draft declaration on Kosovo will be completed
by next Monday, Vojislav Kostunica said today after a meeting of the
Return Coalition presidency.
Kostunica, who chaired the meeting, said that the declaration would tabled
in the Serbian Parliament in the first autumn sitting and would also be
debated in the Serbia-Montenegro Parliament.
He told media that the declaration put an emphasis on human rights, adding
that issues such as decentralisation could not be resolved until human
rights regulations were in place.
Also attending the meeting of the Kosovo Serb Return coalition presidency
were Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic and Deputy Prime Minister
Nebojsa Covic.
TOP
CROWN
PRINCE ALEXANDER II SUPPORTS BISHOP ARTEMIJE
With
great pleasure I read your statement on Kosovo and Metohija situation. I
sincerely You for the words of wisdom and courage that all of need in this
moment. I completely share Your vision about possibility of the shared
life in Kosovo and Metohija with the mutual respect all citizens
regardless of their ethnical or religious background.
The Royal
Palace
Belgrade 11040, August 5, 2003
TOP
LETTER OF
SUPPORT FROM HRH CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER II TO THE BISHOP OF RASKA AND
PRIZREN ARTEMIJE
Belgrade, August 5th, 2003. _ HRH Crown Prince Aleksandar II sent the
letter of support to the Bishop of the Raska and Prizren Artemije, today,
in which he says:
"With great pleasure I read your statement on Kosovo and Metohija
situation. I sincerely You for the words of wisdom and courage that all of
need in this moment. I completely share Your vision about possibility of
the shared life in Kosovo and Metohija with the mutual respect all
citizens regardless of their ethnical or religious background.
Using this opportunity, I deplore again any act of violence and terrorism
toward members of Serbian community, as well as toward any other citizens
of Kosovo and Metohija.
I want to assure You, that You can always count to my support of your
noble ambition".
RELATED
NEWS:
BISHOP
ARTEMIJE CALLS FOR MULTIETHNIC KOSOVO
B92, Vesti -
Frankfurt
Frankfurt (Germany), August 4, 2003
Raska and Prizren Bishop Artemije has insisted that Kosovo "wouldn't,
couldn't and shouldn't ever again be only Serb; but that it wouldn't,
couldn't and shouldn't be only Albanian either".
Speaking to Serbian-language Frankfurt daily Vesti, the bishop said: "If
we could live together with all the nations from the region in the past
then I believe we can in the future too".
The bishop expects new UNMIK governor Harri Holkeri to approach both
communities impartially, realize what the real problems are and solve them
in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244.
Bishop Artemije said that if the former Finnish PM "succeeds in fully
implementing the resolution, I think he would do a great job not merely
for Kosovo but the whole of the international community as well".
TOP
INDEPENDENT (UK) KLA LINK SUSPECTED IN UN POLICE MURDER
The
killing has caused alarm as it follows recent attacks on symbols of law
and order after the conviction of four ex-KLA members on war crimes
charges. The men, who were sentenced to a total of 45 years, were found
guilty of offences including torture, kidnapping and the inhuman treatment
of civilians during the Kosovo conflict in 1998 and 1999.
TOP
THE
INDEPENDENT (London)
06 August 2003
By Stephen Castle in Brussels
The United Nations offered a ?50,000 (£35,000) reward yesterday for
information leading to the arrest of the killer of one of its policemen
serving in Kosovo, amid fears that law enforcement agencies had become the
target of an upsurge of violence.
Some fear the killing is linked to recent attacks on court and police
buildings, which followed the conviction of former members of the Kosovo
Liberation Army (KLA) on war crimes charges.
Yesterday, investigators refused to speculate about who might have killed
Major Satish Menon, a 43-year-old Indian officer who was shot by a sniper
in an ambush on Sunday near the village of Slatina, 28 miles north of the
capital, Pristina. A British officer driving the vehicle was unhurt.
Major Menon is the first policeman to die in Kosovo since the
international community took over the administration after Nato's bombing
campaign in 1999. The shooting took place in a Serb area but within easy
reach of Albanian villages, and the two communities are blaming each
other.
The killing has caused alarm as it follows recent attacks on symbols of
law and order after the conviction of four ex-KLA members on war crimes
charges. The men, who were sentenced to a total of 45 years, were found
guilty of offences including torture, kidnapping and the inhuman treatment
of civilians during the Kosovo conflict in 1998 and 1999.
In an apparent reprisal for the ruling, a rocket-propelled grenade was
fired at a district court
building in Pristina on 20 July, causing serious damage. That was followed
immediately by an explosion outside a police station near by.
Three days earlier, a hand grenade exploded outside another police
station, north-east of Pristina, near the birthplace of the four convicted
men. UN police vehicles have also been vandalised and daubed with
graffiti, and last weekend, gunmen fired into a car in the mainly Albanian
town of Pec, killing three people, including two girls passing by. The
violence has posed new questions for peace-keepers, who once saw the KLA
as allies of the Nato alliance against the Serb forces of the former
Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.
Sven Lindholm, spokesman for the Organisation for Security and
Co-operation in Europe, said the attacksv on court and police buildings
"can be seen as an attack on the rule of law because they were targeted on
the institutions that are trying to instil the rule of law".
While some see the spate of recent attacks as a political statement by
those who retain a loyalty to former KLA colleagues, others believe that
it is the work of criminal gangs.
Stefan Feller, the UN police chief, linked the earlier attacks with the
trial verdict, but was careful not to connect the latest death in the same
way. He said Major Menon died "because he was a police officer" and that
he was "apparently selected at random to be killed".
He added: "This was a cold-blooded and deliberate killing of an officer
who had no chance to defend himself."
More than 4,000 UN police officers patrol Kosovo. Many former KLA members
have joined the unarmed 6,000-strong local police force, the Kosovo
Protection Corps. The region has been administered by UN and Nato-led
peace-keepers from K-For since June 1999, after a 78-day bombing campaign
forced the withdrawal of Serb forces under the command of Mr Milosevic.
TOP
THREE
KOSOVO ALBANIANS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH UN POLICEMAN MURDER
Three
Kosovo-Albanians have been arrested by an UNMIK special police unit and
KFOR troops in connection with the murder of Indian UN police major Satish
Menon.
TOP
www.b92.net
SRNA News Agency, Bijeljina
Beta News Agency, Belgrade
August 6, 2003
PRISTINA -- Wednesday -- Three Kosovo-Albanians have been arrested by an
UNMIK special police unit and KFOR troops in connection with the murder of
Indian UN police major Satish Menon.
UN police spokesman Derek Chappell confirmed the arrests, insisting that
the men were not arrested for murdering the policeman, but over weapons
discovered during a search of the area.
Chappell explained that a thorough search of the terrain is being
conducted in order to determine how the attackers came, set up the ambush
and fled. Rifles and other items have so far been discovered.
According to a statement of the UNMIK police's Information Office, the
three, whose names have yet to be released, have been remanded into
custody while a large-scale investigation is carried out.
UNMIK urge Kosovo citizens to cooperate with the investigation team,
reminding them of the 50,000-euro reward offered for information leading
to the identification and arrest of Menon's killers.
Menon was killed while travelling on the Zvecan-Leposavic Road in a UN
marked car when his vehicle was fired upon just before midnight on Sunday.
TOP
A
SERB IN EASTERN PART OF KOSOVO BEATEN BY ALBANIANS
Pavic was attacked while he was looking after his livestock on a meadow
near the village. After first aid assistance by his neighbors Pavic was
moved to a hospital in Vranje where he was held in for medical treatment.
The assailants fled the scene.
TOP
KIM RADIO
Gnjilane, 05 Aug
On Monday, at around 18:00, a group of unidentified Albanians beat 50
years old Zivorad Pavic from Koretiste, near Gnjilane, causing him serious
injuries.
Pavic was attacked while he was looking after his livestock on a meadow
near the village. After first aid assistance by his neighbors Pavic was
moved to a hospital in Vranje where he was held in for medical treatment.
The assailants fled the scene. UNMIK and KFOR have been informed of this
incident. There is an ongoing investigation regarding this case.
TOP
UN
ADMINISTRATION IN KOSOVO ACCUSED OF INDIFFERENCE FOR "ANA" PLANS
In
the announcement signed by Milan Ivanovic, the president of the SNV, this
council warns that this kind of stances can have "tragic consequences".
"Even every politically ignorant person from Northern Kosovo is clear"
with the fact that ANA has the goal of cutting of Kosovska
Mitrovica-Leposavic communication, "so that they could cause panic and
fear among the Serbs from this homogenous Serb region," states the SNV.
TOP
Kosovska Mitrovica, 06 Aug (Free Serbia) _ Serbian national council (SNV)
for Northern Kosovo has accused the international administration in the
province of "being indifferent" towards as they have put it "the
intentions of the Albanian National Army (ANA) to stop the communication
between Kosovska Mitrovica and Leposavic".
In the announcement signed by Milan Ivanovic, the president of the SNV,
this council warns that this kind of stances can have "tragic
consequences". "Even every politically ignorant person from Northern
Kosovo is clear" with the fact that ANA has the goal of cutting of
Kosovska Mitrovica-Leposavic communication, "so that they could cause
panic and fear among the Serbs from this homogenous Serb region," states
the SNV.
"The ANA sightings in the Zvecan municipality and surrounding area and the
northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, the murder of the UNMIK policeman on
the Mitrovica-Leposavic road, or to put it more preciously in the region
dominated by the Albanian villages of Koshutovo, Ceranja, and Shaljska
Bistrica, then the suspicious suicide of the French KFOR soldier in the
same region at a moment when there was an exchange of fire between KFOR
and ANA, speaks that ANA has started actions for fulfilling its idea of
great Albania," states SNV.
The SNV also points, "This same organization has on two occasions mined
the railroad bridge in this region," openly admitting this acts. "Almost
at the same time there are numerous statements of Albanian officials
claiming that with their presence UNMIK and KFOR are posing as an obstacle
for Kosovo_s independence, which is surly an inspiration for numerous
violence_s," states the announcement.
The SNV evaluates that the international administration "is approaching
this problem with indifference", and that "there is an impression" that
"they are sticking their head in the sand not wanting to call things by
their real name". (Beta)
TOP
"UNMIK
OCCUPIERS OUT" - ALBANIAN GRAFFITO ON DJAKOVICA MUNICIPAL BUILDING
Early
on Wednesday morning, unidentified individuals wrote anti-UNMIK graffito
on the building of Djakovica Municipal Building where UNMIK Administration
led by John Rogers has its offices.
TOP
"UNMIK Occupiers Out"
07 Aug (Koha Ditore) _ Early on Wednesday morning, unidentified
individuals wrote anti-UNMIK graffito on the building of Djakovica
Municipal Building where UNMIK Administration led by John Rogers has its
offices.
On the right side of the building across the "Mother Theresa" main road it
was written "UNMIK Occupiers Out." UNMIK Officials didn' give any opinion
about this graffito, which is the first of its kind these last four years
in Djakovica.
TOP
OLIVER
IVANOVIC CALLS FOR DISBANDING KPC (KOSOVO PROTECTION CORPS)
On Wednesday, Oliver Ivanovic, a member of the Kosovo parliament presiding
body, called on the international community to disband the Kosovo
Protection Corps (KPC) because of its "participation in many tragedies
that have happened in Kosovo in the past four years".
TOP
DANAS,
Belgrade daily
07 August, 2003,
On Wednesday, Oliver Ivanovic, a member of the Kosovo parliament presiding
body, called on the international community to disband the Kosovo
Protection Corps (KPC) because of its "participation in many tragedies
that have happened in Kosovo in the past four years".
In his interview for Jagodina "Palma Plus" TV station Ivanovic stated, "it
is normal for Kosovo to have a fire prevention unit which will act as
separate formation, but not as an armed formation with the goal of one day
becoming an army".
Two days ago the KPC headquarters demanded that the international
community implements the KPC in the policing duties in Kosovo
Currently the KPC has the status of civilian formation, which is to assist
during extraordinary situations.
TOP
ERP KIM
Info-Service is the official Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox
Diocese of Raska and Prizren and works with the blessing of His Grace
Bishop Artemije.
Our Information Service is distributing news on Kosovo related issues. The
main focus of the Info-Service is the life of the Serbian Orthodox Church
and the Serbian community in the Province of Kosovo and Metohija. ERP KIM
Info Service works in cooperation with
www.serbian-translation.com as well as the
Kosovo
Daily News (KDN) News List
Disclaimer:
The views expressed by the authors of newspaper articles or other texts
which are not official communiqués or news reports by the Diocese are
their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Serbian
Orthodox Church
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