News....
Reports....Testimonies
Kosovo
and Metohija May 31, 2002
Yugoslavia, UNMIK sign agreements on
cooperation
Michael Stainer
and Nebojsa Covic at the press conference
| UNMIK
head Michael Stainer and head of the Coordinating Centre for Kosovo-Metohija
Nebojsa Covic today held a meeting of the High Working Group of
Yugoslavia and UNMIK, where a series of agreements to be signed
between UNMIK and Belgrade authorities were discussed, as well
as harmonisation of principles and positions on the return of
the displaced. Working group members also discussed transfer of
Kosovo prisoners to Serbian jails and integration of Serbian judges
and prosecutors into the Kosovo judiciary, and agreed to set up
a working group for the protection of cultural heritage.
|
Nebojsa
Covic: Short-term and long-term prerequisites for security in the
Balkans May 28, 2002
 The
extremism of a few Kosovo Albanians, who have acted publicly and
aggressively, represents the most severe threat for peace in the
region as it denies both Serbian and Christian rights in Kosovo
and Metohia. The nationalism and extremism of Kosovo Albanians
is the only one that has, after all, survived in the conflicts
fought over the wreckage of the former Yugoslavia. The international
community unintentionally supported it in its legitimate opposition
to the regime of Slobodan Milosevic, a regime that abused the
human rights of all citizens of the FRY and Republic of Serbia.
One never discards their allies easily and immediately after victory
has been won.
Long-term
sympathy toward such an ally, however, can strengthen the hard-line
right wing among other nations, and among Serbs in particular,
as their nationalistic front believes that the Serbs have been
misunderstood and mistreated by the international community.
They dream of revenge and reprisals.
Dr. Covic
in his speech
|
US Senator George
Vojinovic and his wife
during their visit to Gracanica Monastery, May 29, 2002
Yugoslav
Sovreignity in Kosovo Confirmed
by International Community
STOP
DESECRATION OF OUR HOLY SITES IN
KOSOVO AND METOHIJA!!
| "I can
only assure you that these acts of vandalism are clearly a part
of the wider strategy to discourage returns of our IDP's and change
the cultural identity of the region which has been known for its
valuable Serb Orthodox sites worldwide. Changing not only ethnic,
but also cultural identity, Kosovo Albanian leaders want to accelerate
the process of independence of Kosovo which would essentially
be a "state" tailored to the measure of Albanian people."
May 15, 2002 |
Coordination
Centre
of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Republic of Serbia
for Kosovo and Metohija
Report
on the destructions of cultural heritage
in Kosovo and Metohija
When
the international community will stop sponsoring
a society based on ethic violence and discrimination against non-Albanians
May 17, 2002, Serbs
protest in Gracanica against discrimination in Albanian
dominated Kosovo Province.
Bishop Artemije
and HRH Crown Prince Alexander in Belgrade
13 May 2002 - Press
Statement
Latest
News from Kosovo
U.S.
State Department Announces Additional Support for
Minority Returns to Kosovo
|
"I
am expecting a public statement from the US Government saying
that it will not tolerate the current situation of the Serb
community; that the US administration is concerned for the situation
of Serbs in Kosovo; that it is unsatisfied with UNMIK's work
in the last three years; that it will not reduce investments;
that it plans to invest US$5 million for the return of Kosovo
Serbs. We also ran into powerful support for the decentralization
of Kosovo."
Rada Trajkovic,
May 13 to KOHA Ditore after her visit to the United States.
|
An
olive branch or political marketing
Kosovo Albanian Prime Minister in the Pec Monastery
Kosovo Prime Minister
Bajram Rexhepi with the highest UNMIK and KFOR representatives at
Patriarchate of Pec Monastery, Easter 2002
| At first
glance, it appears encouraging that the political rhetoric of
the Albanian leaders has taken on a somewhat more moderate tone;
however, on the ground we still have the usual practice of denial
and destruction of everything Serb and Orthodox, which demonstrates
a serious discrepancy between words and actions. Two possible
explanations for this exist: either there is insincerity on the
part of the leaders of the Kosovo Albanians who are pulling the
wool over the eyes of foreign diplomats or, on the other hand,
they fundamentally lack control and influence over their voters.
Fr. Sava |
History is repeating
Scenes
of barbarism
The
Serb Orthodox Cemetery in Djakovica
DESECRATED BY KOSOVO ALBANIANS
on Easter
KFOR
intentionally tried to hush up the incident and did not
inform the Serban Orthodox Church about this act of vandalism. The
Diocese learned about this desecration only in an indirect way while
the KFOR authorities still
do not allow Serb Orthodox representatives to visit the location.
Crosses were overturned
and smashed, marble tomb coverings removed
so that only concrete and the ground remain
| Just
before the Orthodox Christian Feast of Easter Kosovo Albanian
extremists have desecrated the Serb cemetery in Djakovica. After
this latest act of vandalism the local KFOR did not inform the
Serb representatives nor the Serbian Orthodox Church in order
to hush up the scandal. In fact, until recently the cemetery and
the church of St. Lazarus were guarded by Italian KFOR but not
long ago the fixed check point was removed and KFOR troops established
a patrol system of protection. Obviously this was not a deterrent
for the Albanian vandals who used the absence of Italians and
desecrated the last remaining Serb Orthodox cemetery in the area.
MORE |
More
about previous cases of desecrations
