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KiM Info Newsletter 31-03-07 Latest information following attack on Visoki Decani Monastery Bishop Teodosije - This is a terrorist attack on the Monastery and the NATO forces protecting it Kosovo officials visit Decani Monastery - Bishop Teodosije insists that the perpetrators be found If the perpetrators of this attack are not found, as was the case in previous three attacks on the monastery, I am afraid that this would seriously put under question the international and Kosovo institutions' ability and readiness to grant security to the Serbian people and its holy sites in Kosovo, said Bishop Teodosije KIM Info Service
Bishop Teodosije If the perpetrators of this attack are not found, as was the case in previous three armed attacks on the monastery, I am afraid that this would seriously put under question the international and Kosovo institutions' ability and readiness to grant security to the Serbian people and its holy sites in Kosovo, said Bishop Teodosije in a discussion with the Kosovo officials who promised to do everything possible personally to find the perpetrators. Italian KFOR forces have increased the level of security in the monastery area. The monastery also received visits this morning from representatives of the U.S. and Italian offices in Pristina and were informed by monks about all the details of the attack on the monastery. Representatives of other international offices in Pristina expressed their solidarity with the monastery in telephone calls and e-mail messages. Ylber Hysa, a representative of the Kosovo negotiating team for cultural heritage also visited the monastery yesterday as a sign of support to the monastery brotherhood. The administration of the monastery nevertheless expects international and Kosovo officials to publicly condemn this attack as a terrorist act in strongest terms and without any amelioration. Since the end of the war in Kosovo and the beginning of the UN led mission 150 Serbian Orthodox sites have been either completely destroyed or damaged. Only in two days of riots in March 2004, 35 Serbian Orthodox sites were destroyed by Albanian extremists.
Bishop Teodosije talked by phone to President Tadic Bishop Teodosije emphasized that the political cosequences of this terrorist attack may be huge if the perpetrators are not identified and brought to justice because this is the fourth armed attack on the monastery after deployment of NATO peacekeepers in the Province. KIM Info-service
President Tadic and Bishop Teodosije in He appealed on President Tadic to request on the highest international level stronger protection for Serbian Orthodox holy sites and the people particularly in these critical moments for Kosovo Serbs. Yesterday, the chief of the Coordination Center for Kosovo and Metohija Dr. Sanda Raskovic-Ivic phoned to the monastery too. She expressed to Fr. Sava who talked to her her utmost solidarity with the brotherhood and condemned the attack on the monastery which she visited only one day before. The monastery is informed that the Polical Deputy of the SRSG Mr. Stephen Shook will visit the monastery on Sunday morning (April 1st) in order to talk to Bishop Teodosije and Fr. Sava.
Fr. Sava - A high time to dismantle the extremist network operating in Kosovo It is very hard to speak about security and future of Kosovo and all its citizens with terrorists walking around and targeting 14th century churches with anti-tank grenades or vandalizing the churches which have reconstructed in the meantime. KIM Info-service
Fr. Sava Janjic The extremist infrastructure is well known to NATO and the UN administration and it is only a question of political will and readiness of their governments to more efficiently establish the rule of law and order in the Province. The alternative to this is to leave Kosovo to be ruled by extremist gangs and clans which are using institutions as a smoke-screen. Of course, Kosovo Serbs are courageous people and we are assured that we will manage to endure all these challenges, but this not only the future of Kosovo Serbs or the Church is at stake but also the stability of the entire region. That is why beside speaking about the status of Kosovo it is essential to fulfill the basic standards which, regrettably, has not been achieved in the last 7 years of the internatinal presence, despite all efforts of many comitted officials and soldiers. This grave situation is a particular challenge for Kosovo Albanians who want to live in a normal and democratic society too. The status without more concrete comittment of Kosovo leaders to the democratic future would be of no benefit to anyone except to the extremists who would have free hands to continue their rule of terror. The claims that the new status of Kosovo would automatically change the quality of life are completly unfounded and the long-term international presence (both civilian and military) is necessary in any possible scenario of the future status settlement. I wish Kosovo were a peaceful home for all its inhabitants but unfortunatelly only 6.000 out of 200.000 Serb refugees have returned in 7 years which is a devastating result. Many are discouraged to return because the local authorities are not offering them a proper institutional proteciton and security. Many Serbs cannot even get their property back or are forced to sell it. In order to integrate Serbs into Kosovo society Kosovo Albanian leaders must do much more than offer rhetorical promises for a bright future. In any case, Kosovo remains our home and our interest is also the interest of all citizens of Kosovo regardless of their ethnicity or religion. We can only hope that in finding the way towards the future Kosovo would not fall into another circle of violence such was the one in March 2004 which would be of no benefit to anyone.
Rocket-propelled anti-tank grenade fired at Decani Monastery did explode - technical details are being investigated The penetration power of a rocket-propelled grenade of this type is about 30 cm. If the rocket-propelled grenade had hit the roof of the church or the facade, enormous material damage would have resulted. If the rocket-propelled grenade had hit the monastery residence quarters, there would certainly have been human casualties among the monks and/or the Italian soldiers protecting the monastery. KIM Info Service Following an incorrect statement by the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) transmitted by Radio Television Serbia "that an unexpoded mortar grenade was found in the exterior of the monastery courtyard with metal parts that caused damage to the bricks in the wall and that the unexploded grenade was removed by members of KFOR", the administration of Visoki Decani Monastery wishes to inform the public of the following facts: A 64mm rocket-propelled anti-tank rocket propelled grenade (RPG) exploded on the monastery grounds yesterday at 1:10 a.m. as published in the first newsletter regarding this attack (though at the first moment there was a suspicion that it was a mortar-grenade). The empty bottom fuselage part of the rocket-propelled grenade was found in the roof of the monastery wall while the main part of the explosive in the head of the grenade exploded in a strong blast and only some melted metal remains of it were found at the spot. The technical details related to the explosion are presently being studied by KFOR ballistic exports who are conducting a detailed search of the area around the location where the damage is visible. Therefore the KPS news on allegedly unexploded grenade is completely incorrect. If the rocket-propelled grenade had not exploded (which is hinted by the KPS statement), there would not have been such a strong explosion which was heard by all and the explosive head would have been found somewhere near the burned propulsion charge. One thing is clear and undeniable - the monastery was attacked by a anti-tank rocket propelled grenade which did explode at 1.10 a.m. All the rest is the issue of the military technical expertise. The KPS is running investigation who might be responsible for this heinous attack. Two ethnic Albanians were detained by police yesterday while they were observing monks and KFOR inspecting the damaged wall from the top of the hill, near the location on which the RPG launcher was found. It is still not known if they have any connection with the attack on the monastery.
This photograph shows a similar rocket-propelled anti-tank grenade (64mm). The bottom part with wings corresponds to the appearance of the empty part found of the roof of the wall, while the top part with the explosive head exploded in a powerful blast heard by the monks and KFOR soldiers. The front part of the rocket-propelled grenade of this type carries approximately 0.31 kg of explosive. The penetration power of a rocket-propelled grenade of this type is about 30 cm. If the rocket-propelled grenade had hit the roof of the church or the facade, enormous material damage would have resulted. If the rocket-propelled grenade had hit the monastery residence quarters, there would certainly have been human casualties among the monks and/or the Italian soldiers protecting the monastery.
The photos follow which show the possible trajectory of the RPG anti-tank grenade, a view from the hill from which the attackers attacked the monastery and photos showing the RPG launcher left by the attackers on the hill.
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