August 29, 2003

ERP KIM Newsletter 29-08-03

CONTENTS:

ANOTHER ATTACK ON THE SERB ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ST. DEMETRIUS
On Wednesday evening (Aug 27) unknown persons damaged for the third time in last four months the fence and the gate in front of the Serbian Orthodox church of St. Demetrius in the ethnically mixed village of Susica, 2 km, east from Gracanica.

DECLARATION ON KOSOVO - PLATFORM FOR FURTHER POLICY MAKING
The Declaration on Kosovo and Metohija does not provide an absolute resolution of the problems in the province, since many other things must be completed first, the return of displaced Serbs, ensuring a satisfactory level of security and work, and to supply them with all the human rights that citizens of Serbia enjoy, said Zoran Zivkovic in a press conference today, adding that above all else these were obligations of the international community.

WOUNDED KOSOVO SERB UNDERGOES SURGERY
Kosovo Serb Zoran Doncic, wounded by Albanian snipers earlier this week, had surgery this morning in the Serb hospital in Kosovska Mitrovica. Deputy hospital director Milan Ivanovic explained that a bullet has been removed from Doncic’s abdomen and that the patient is recovering.

TWO MACEDONIAN POLICEMEN RELEASED AFTER KIDNAP BY  REBEL COMMANDER
Macedonian police units Wednesday released two officers who were kidnapped by an ethnic Albanian rebel commander in northern Macedonia, near the border with the UN-run Serbian province of Kosovo, a spokeswoman said.

INET: KOSOVO AND METOHIJA NEWS, AUGUST 28, 2003

PERPETRATORS OF GORAZDEVAC MASSACRE STILL NOT ARRESTED - DAY 16...

More News Available on our:

KOSOVO DAILY NEWS LIST (KDN)
KDN Archive

This newsletter is available on our ERP KIM Web-site:
http://www.kosovo.net/erpkiminfo.html

UNKNOWN ATTACKERS DAMAGED FENCE AND GATE IN FRONT OF ST. DEMETRIUS' CHURCH IN SUSICA, NEAR GRACANICA
On Wednesday evening (Aug 27) unknown persons damaged for the third time in last four months the fence and the gate in front of the Serbian Orthodox church of St. Demetrius in the ethnically mixed village of Susica, 2 km, east from Gracanica.

TOP

ERPKIM Info-service
Gracanica, August 29, 2003

On Wednesday evening (Aug 27) unknown persons damaged for the third time in last four months the fence and the gate in front of the Serbian Orthodox church of St. Demetrius in the ethnically mixed village of Susica, 2 km, east from Gracanica.

According to the statement of the proto-presbyter Bogomir Stevic, the parish priest of Gracanica and Susica, the church of St. Demetrius has been attacked and desecrated by local Kosovo Albanians five times since June 1999. They would break the church door, smash the holy icons, bring their cattle into the church and even smear excrement on the chruch walls. Although in the vicinity of the church Swedish KFOR is building a road for the needs of the local Albanian community unknown attackers again damaged the fence and the gate which the Serbs erected in order to prevent further desecration of the church.

U cetvrtak ujutro, 28. avgusta, na lice mesta su dosli pripadnici Kosovske policije koji su napravili uvidjaj i potom otisli.

On Thursday morning (Aug 28) members of the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) arrived on the scene and conducted an investigation.

The church of St. Demetrius was built in the beginning of the 19th century. Soon afterwards an Albanian Jashar Pasha, known for his cruelty against Christians, razed the church to the ground. The church was reconstructed after the Second World War and is serving at the moment to the dwindling Serb community in Susica village.

Diocese of Raska and Prizren strongly condemns this vandalous act appealing on the members of the Swedish KFOR to protect this Orthodox site from attackers. The Diocese deeply regrets that beside almost everyday attacks on Serb population throughout Kosovo and Metohija Province, attacks and desecrations of the Orthodox Christian holy sites still continue.

TOP
 

DECLARATION ON KOSOVO-METOHIJA PLATFORM FOR FURTHER POLICY MAKING
The Declaration on Kosovo and Metohija does not provide an absolute resolution of the problems in the province, since many other things must be completed first, the return of displaced Serbs, ensuring a satisfactory level of security and work, and to supply them with all the human rights that citizens of Serbia enjoy, said Zoran Zivkovic in a press conference today, adding that above all else these were obligations of the international community.

TOP

http://www.serbia.sr.gov.yu/news/2003-08/28/330626.html

SERBIAN GOVERNMENT
August 28, 2003

Belgrade, Aug 28, 2003 - The Declaration on Kosovo and Metohija does not provide an absolute resolution of the problems in the province, since many other things must be completed first, the return of displaced Serbs, ensuring a satisfactory level of security and work, and to supply them with all the human rights that citizens of Serbia enjoy, said Zoran Zivkovic in a press conference today, adding that above all else these were obligations of the international community.

According to Zivkovic, the Declaration was a platform for further policies of all relevant institutions in Serbia towards the problems in Kosovo-Metohija.

According to him, Serbia's authorities were not satisfied with the performance of the international community during the past four years in Kosovo-Metohija. He added that the figures extremely disheartening: 1,300 missing persons, 1,200 killed, tens of thousands of burnt houses and more than a hundred demolished or damaged churches and monasteries.

"Not one of these crimes has been investigated, let alone someone having been apprehended or convicted", said Zivkovic. He added that this state of affairs cannot be interpreted as a consequence of the international community's incompetence, given that in many other regions of the world it has shown that it can introduce stability. Zivkovic said that this demonstrated an obvious lack of will on behalf of the international community to do deliver.

Zivkovic expressed hope that the new UNMIK chief, Harri Holkeri, will manage to implement Resolution 1244, adding that his first actions were cause for optimism.

Zivkovic said that another factor that can help solve the Kosovo problem are Albanian politicians in the province who were also sent this Declaration. The Prime Minister said that Albanian politicians should not see this document as something new as it is founded on UN Security Council's Resolution 1244. "They should not see the Declaration on Kosovo-Metohija as a re-awakening of war drums. It represents a call to Albanian politicians to show their political maturity and wisdom so that safety, freedom of movement and return of Serbs and other non-Albanians could be secured, and they should also show they can be partners of Belgrade, Washington and Brussels," Zivkovic said.

According to Prime Minister Zivkovic, the third factor is seen in repatriation of Serbs and other non-Albanians in the province, that the Serbian government should support through its Coordinating Centre for Kosovo-Metohija. Also, local governments will help that process by creating humanitarian and other liaisons with Serb enclaves in Kosovo-Metohija.

The fourth factor, according to Zivkovic, is the Kosovo Serbs. What they can do is stay in the province. Those Serbs who moved out should return, Zivkovic reiterated.

Whether the return will be quick and safe will become known over the next month. The new UNMIK chief is to meet Serbian government officials to discuss plans for the return of Serbs in the province. Depending on how many people are intended for the return, where they will go and at what time, it will then be known whether UNMIK has changed its policies with the arrival of their new head.

TOP

WOUNDED KOSOVO SERB UNDERGOES SURGERY
Kosovo Serb Zoran Doncic, wounded by Albanian snipers earlier this week, had surgery this morning in the Serb hospital in Kosovska Mitrovica. Deputy hospital director Milan Ivanovic explained that a bullet has been removed from Doncic’s abdomen and that the patient is recovering.

TOP

SRNA News Agency
August 29, 2003


KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- Friday - Kosovo Serb Zoran Doncic, wounded by Albanian snipers earlier this week, had surgery this morning in the Serb hospital in Kosovska Mitrovica.

Deputy hospital director Milan Ivanovic explained that a bullet has been removed from Doncic’s abdomen and that the patient is recovering.

Following the attack, Doncic was admitted to the Spanish KFOR hospital in the Dubrava village, near Istok, and transferred yesterday to the Kosovska Mitrovica hospital for further medical treatment.

TOP

TWO MACEDONIAN POLICEMEN RELEASED AFTER KIDNAP BY ALBANIAN REBEL COMMANDER
Macedonian police units Wednesday released two officers who were kidnapped by an ethnic Albanian rebel commander in northern Macedonia, near the border with the UN-run Serbian province of Kosovo, a spokeswoman said.

TOP

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
August 27, 2003

SKOPJE, Aug 27 (AFP) - Macedonian police units Wednesday released two officers who were kidnapped by an ethnic Albanian rebel commander in northern Macedonia, near the border with the UN-run Serbian province of Kosovo, a spokeswoman said.

Interior ministry spokeswoman Mirjana Konteska said no one was injured during the police action, while the two officers were released without problems.

"The operation continues to arrest the kidnapper," Konteska said.

Two officers, one ethnic Albanian and one Macedonian, who had been off-duty, were kidnapped by rebel leader Avdil Jakupi, near northern town Kumanovo, some 40 kilometers (24 miles) north from the capital Skopje.

Jakupi demanded the release of another ethnic Albanian, currently detained pending trial for setting off an explosive in Kumanovo high school last year, which killed one person and injured several others, the police said in a statement.

Former commander of the ethnic Albanian rebels fighting the government forces in 2001, Jakupi, known by his nom-de-guerre Cakala, is reportedly one of the leaders of an ethnic Albanian extremist group, the Albanian National Army (ANA) that operates in Kosovo and Macedonia.

The little-known ANA, which has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks in Kosovo, southern Serbia and Macedonia, has been declared a "terrorist organisation" by the UN mission in Kosovo.

Two years after the signing of a peace pact, tensions persist between the Macedonian authorities and ethnic Albanians, who staged a seven-month uprising in 2001 to press for civil and political rights.

TOP

INET- KOSOVO AND METOHIJA NEWS, AUG 28

TOP

Thursday 28 August 2003

23:20 Slovak foreign minister Eduard Kukan has offered to host the dialogue of Belgrade with the Kosovo Albanians on Slovakian soil, claims today's issue of "Sme" daily, citiing Serbia and Montenegro ambassador in Bratislava Miroslav Kopecni.

20:20 During a visit to Kosovska Mitrovica today, new UNMIK chief Harri Holkeri stated that interethnic dialogue and trust are key factors in resolving all the complex issues in Kosovo.

19:00 Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) whip in the Serbia and Montenegro parliament Ivica Kalezic assessed today that the federal parliament should not discuss the Declaration on Kosovo and Metohija at tomorrow's session because Montenegrin MPs still have not been acquainted with its contents.

17:00 The Declaration on Kosovo and Metohija adopted by the Serbian parliament will not be valid in the Province, stated Muhamed Hamiti, spokesman for (provisional) Kosovo president Ibrahim Rugova today.

16:30 A passenger train traveling from Tabanovci to Skopje hit a planted mine last night near the village of Recica, the Macedonian interior ministry advised today.

15:40 Serbian deputy premier and Coordinating Center for Kosovo and Metohija head Nebojsa Covic said today that intelligence reports, as well as analyses of the situation in the field and in the region, suggest the possibility of intensified activities on the part of ethnic Albanian terrorists in southern Serbia, who are preparing "something bloodthirsty."

15:00 The special representative of the UN secretary-general in Kosovo and Metohija Harri Holkeri stated today in Kosovska Mitrovica that "no stone will remain unturned" in Kosovo until those responsible for crimes committed in the province are found. Holkeri assessed that the goal of recent crimes is to make the return of displaced persons "impossible" and that those who are behind this are against the future of Kosovo.

13:40 This morning at 01.10 hours a Chinese-made hand grenade was tossed in the center of Presevo near the mosque, the municipal courthouse and the city hall, the Coordinating Committee for southern Serbia advised today. The location where the incident occurred is partly owned by the Serbian family of Popovic and partly by Presevo municipality.

13:20 According to statistics compiled by the Serbian police (MUP), warrants have been issued for more than 300 Albanian terrorists who committed crimes against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and are responsible for numerous murders in the Province, writes today's issue of the Mitrovica daily "Jedinstvo." Among the most serious crimes committed by KLA terrorists are the massacre of 44 Serbs in the Radonjic Lake district in late 1998; and the kidnapping and murder of 37 civilians captured in Decani and transferred to Glodjane, also in 1998. That same year ethnic Albanian terrorists killed no less than 32 other Serb civilians who were later buried in the Muslim cemetery in Djakovica.

12:20 No one was injured in the explosion that occurred early this morning near the Presevo city hall. Police sources stated that it was most probably a hand grenade planted in the market across the road near the mosque. Multiple gunshots were also heard last night in the village of Konculj, Bujanovac municipality. Sources close to Serbian security forces described this as a provocation.

10:00 Serbia and Montenegro Army chief of staff general-colonel Branko Krga and KFOR commander Italian general Fabio Mini met yesterday in the village of Rudare near the administrative line with Kosovo and Metohija. The two generals discussed the situation in Kosovo and Metohija and in the Ground Safety Zone, as well as the cooperation of KFOR and the Serbia and Montenegro Army on its further stabilization. The meeting was also attended by members of the Joint Commission for Implementation of the Military-Technical Agreement, advised the defense ministry's public relations office.

09:40 Following last night's ratification of the Declaration on Kosovo and Metohija by the Serbian parliament, the UN civil mission in Kosovo
(UNMIK) issued a statement saying that the decision on the final status of the province can only be made by the UN Security Council. "No unilateral decision on the final status of Kosovo can influence the future of the province," stated UNMIK spokeswoman Isabella Karlowitz
(sp?)

09:20 Last night the Serbian parliament unanimously adopted the Declaration on Kosovo and Metohija. Of the 209 MPs present, 186 voted in favor of the Declaration. There were no abstentions or votes against, and 23 MPs did not vote.


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

If you received this message by error or you don`t want to receive our e-mails anymore, please write to us: erpkim@kosovo.net

Our Newsletters are available on our ERP KIM Info-service Web-Page:
/erpkiminfo.html

Additional information on our Diocese and the life of the Kosovo Serb Community may be found at:

Copyright 2003, ERP KIM Info-Service