Newsletter 02 December, 2003

Reconciliation must be mutual and sincere -rhetoric without acts means nothing

A commentary on the yesterday's statement of the UNMK's chief Hari Holkeri in Belgrade.

The statement of UNMIK's chief Mr. Hari Holkeri in Belgrade yesterday in which he called Belgrade officials to apologize for what happened in Kosovo and thus ease the tensions in the Province has created lots of confusion among Kosovo Serbs, not because a sincere apology has universal and human meaning which no one can deny, but because of the present political and security context both in Kosovo and in Belgrade. We may try to believe that Mr. Holkeri just wanted to give a good piece of advice, but his words quite legitimately bring forward the following question: Is it also not Kosovo Albanian leaders and UNMIK leadership who should apologize to Kosovo Serbs, Roma, Gorani and Bosniaks for their suffering in Kosovo which continues after more than four years of "the internationally granted peace"?

Newsletter 01 December, 2003

Commentary on the interview of Mr. Ibrahim Rugova to Corriere della Sera

Deceiving the world community - Ibrahim Rugova for Corriere della Sera

Despite his four months of specialization at the Sorbonne and the photograph of the Pope in his salon, Mr. Ibrahim Rugova has very little understanding of the authentic values of Christianity in the region where he has been elected as president. Moreover, he does not even mention the existence of the Serbian Orthodox Christian monuments that comprise more than 90 percent of the entire cultural and historical wealth of Kosovo and Metohija. He does not even mention the more than 100 Serbian churches and monasteries destroyed by Albanian extremists after the end of the armed conflict in 1999 (not in the time of war), which, by the way, he has never publicly condemned. More sensitive questions of the Corriere journalist Mr. Rugova gently evaded hiding behind Pope JP II.

This year's Day of Republic of Albania was celebrated in Kosovo Province, Southern Serbia and Macedonia with unhidden ambitions for pan-Albanian territorial unification. Ethnic provocations, tearing down of Serb flags in South Serbia as well as attacks on innocent civilians prove again and again that the true goal of ethnic Albanian nationalists is not Europe of 21st century but reshaping the map of Europe and persecution of the last remaining non-Albanian communities. Will the U.S. and Europe support exactly those ideas which were identified as a main cause of Balkan wars 1991-1999 and allow that which was denied to Serbs, Croats and other European peoples having their minorities in other countries. Without any doubt independence of Kosovo and the finalization of ethnic cleansing of non-Albanians is the first step towards Europe which may plunge the suffering Balkans and the entire continent into new bloodsheds and ethnic

Diocese of Raska and Prizren condemns most recent terrorist attack in Cernica

Hand grenade tossed into yard of Serb-owned house in Cernica near Gnjilane

"This attack is another example that shows that unpunished previous crimes against Serbs in Cernica are only encouraging Albanian extremists whose goal is to expel the remaining Serbs from this martyred village," said Bishop Artemije 

ERP KIM Info Service
Gracanica, November 29, 2003

Today Bishop Artemije of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija strongly condemned last night's terrorist attack in the village of Cernica. "This attack is another example that shows that unpunished previous crimes against Serbs in Cernica are only encouraging Albanian extremists whose goal is to expel the remaining Serbs from this martyred village, said Bishop Artemije in a statement for the ERP KIM Info Service.

"Keeping in mind that the perpetrators of terrorist attacks in Livadice, Obilic, Gorazdevac and other locations have not yet been found, either, the completely legitimate question arises whether the role of the UNMIK police is to find and punish criminals or simply to register their crime and express its 'serious concern' and 'sincere regret' for the violence of which it is a dumb witness. Through its irresponsible and passive behavior UNMIK is even becoming an indirect accessory to ethnic cleansing being conducted against the Serbs and other non-Albanians under the colors of the UN. Serbs have had enough of the rhetoric of condemnation and regret, which masks indifference and hypocrisy. It is necessary to undertake concrete actions as quickly as possible not only against the perpetrators of crimes but also against those political leaders of the Kosovo Albanians who, both personally and through the media, have controlled and fanned anti-Serb hysteria and created an atmosphere of an open season on Serbs  for more than four years. For days the internationally-funded Kosovo RTK television has been broadcasting clips glorifying Hague indictee Fatmir Limaj and the KLA. Yesterday's celebration of the Republic of Albania's Independence Day and the birthday of Adem Jashari, the acts of wild barbarism in Bujanovac and the Presevo Valley once again confirms the grim future facing the south of Serbia and the whole of southeastern Europe if concrete steps are not taken toward the establishment of law and order," the Diocese of Raska and Prizren said in a written statement.

Hand grenade tossed into yard of Serb-owned house in Cernica near Gnjilane

According to Serbian sources in Kosovsko Pomoravlje, a hand grenade was tossed last night in the yard of the house of Srboljub Jovanovic in Cernica near Gnjilane. No one was injured in the explosion, which occurred at five minutes to midnight. At the time of the attack there were three children and three adults in the Jovanovic house. There was minor material damage.

According to Beta news agency sources, last night's grenade attack was carried out against one of two locations where groups of Serbs in Cernica were targeted with hand grenades on August 31 of this year. School teacher Miomir Savic died from wounds resulting from the explosion of one of the grenades.

According to Beta and local sources of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovsko Pomoravlje, the remaining Serbs in Cernica, like most Serbs throughout Kosovo and Metohija, spent yesterday afternoon locked up in their houses because of the Albanian crowds celebrating Flag Day of the Republic of Albania. According to the same sources, after the grenades were tosses into the Serb yard, the shouting and boisterousness in the village stopped.

Since to the arrival of international peacekeeping forces in Kosovo and Metohija in June 1999, seven Serbs have been killed and 34 have been wounded in Cernica. About 40 Serb-owned houses have been set on fire or destroyed. In June 1999 there were 712 Serbs living in Cernica; now there are 250 living among with 3,000 Albanians.

Precise Figures of Post-Conflict Ethnically Motivated Crimes in Kosovo

Editorial
November 12, 2003

Devastating figures of 1,192 killed and 1,303 kidnapped Serbs after the UN/KFOR arrival to Kosovo clearly demonstrate that the peace mission has simply replaced the suffering during the conflict with an organized Kosovo Albanian campaign of ethnic terror against Serbs and other non-Albanians in the time of so called "peace". Although some UNMIK officials stubbornly try to minimize the post-conflict tragedy of Serbs, Roma, Bosniaks, Croats etc. and justify their ethnically biased mission, families of the Serbs killed or abducted despite the UN/NATO presence audaciously bear witness of Albanian ethnic terror and injustice which continues under the UN and the NATO flags.

Instead of stopping violence and disarming KLA gangs, UNMIK allowed KLA to legalize its existence entering in the political life of Kosovo and using the UN sponsored institutions as a smoke screen of ethnic discrimination. Instead of implementing a requirement of the UN SC Resolution 1244 (ch. 10, Annex II, 5) to establish "a substantial autonomy (of Kosovo) within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (i.e. Serbia-Montenegro)" and reestablish multiethnic society prior to the final status settlement, UN Mission de facto created an ethnic Albanian quasi-state with no links to the internationally recognized state to which the Province officially belongs. Inability of UNMIK and KFOR to prevent ethnic Albanian extremism and politically isolate their leaders has resulted in the largest ethnic cleansing during a period of a peace mission.

In the beginning of the second millennium of Christianity UN administered Kosovo Province is the only part of the civilized world in which Christian shrines (churches and cemeteries) are exposed to unrestrained destruction and desecration by Moslem Albanians. At the same time when more than 100 churches destroyed lie in ruins despite the international presence some Western politicians still speak of the European future of Kosovo Province which resembles more Afghanistan than any European country.

Perhaps, if we should say what is the real success of the Kosovo peace mission we can frankly admit that the situation on the ground would have been much worse after the withdrawal of the former Yugoslav forces without their presence, humanitarian assistance and protection of Serb enclaves and some Orthodox Christian holy sites. All other "successes" of the Mission are purely relative and have affected primarily the ethnic Albanian community.

Fr. Sava Janjic
ERP KiM Info-Service

Serbian Ministry of Interior Published Precise Figures of Post-Conflict Ethnically Motivated Crimes in Kosovo and Metohija

Since the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Kosovo and Metohija 1,192 Serbs and 593 members of other national communities have been murdered. The fate of 790 of the 1,303 persons kidnapped or abducted and tortured by Albanian extremists during the same period remains unknown.

KIM Radio News (other Serbian Media)
November 10, 2003

(photo: A Serb being molested in street violence, archive of UNMIK Civpol, more photos available at: http://www.unmikonline.org/civpol/photos/violence.htm)

Since the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Kosovo and Metohija 1,192 Serbs and 593 members of other national communities have been murdered.

The fate of 790 of the 1,303 persons kidnapped or abducted and tortured by Albanian extremists during the same period remains unknown.

A total of 364 persons of the total number of persons kidnapped and missing managed to escape from captivity, and 150 bodies of those who have been murdered were recovered.

During the same period, 1,289 persons sustained serious bodily injury, approximately 10 percent of whom died from their wounds.

This information was compiled by the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs /Serbian State Police/ based on reports by domestic and international committees of the Red Cross, family members, UN police and Hague tribunal investigators. It is difficult to determine the precise number of persons kidnapped and murdered.

There are claims, such as that the head of the UNMIK office for missing persons Jose Barebara, that none of those on the listed among the missing and kidnapped are among the living and that all of these persons have been murdered. However, until their bodies are located, identification is carried out and the bodies are turned over to the families, they will be considered to be still living, said Gvozden Gagic, the head of the Coordinating Center for Kosovo and Metohija's bureau for kidnapped and missing persons, in a statement for "Blic".

The Beaten Elderly Serb From Gnjilane in Critical Condition

Stojkovic sustained serious head injuries and wounds all over his body. After the admission to the hospital Mr. Stojkovic said to the doctors that he had been attacked by a group of five-six Kosovo Albanian males while he was taking care of the cattle on his farm in Paralovo, Novo Brdo Municipality, near Gnjilane, said Dr. Vipic.

Pobjeda and Dan dailies, Montenegro, KiM Radio, ERP KiM Info-Service
November 10, 2003

Kosovska Mitrovica - Beta (November 9). Aleksandar Stojkovic, an elderly Kosovo Serb, who was beaten yesterday by a group of K/Albanians is still in critical condition, said the local anesthesiologist at the special medical care unit in Kosovska Mitrovica hospital Dr. Eva Vipic.

According to her statement Stojkovic sustained serious head injuries and wounds all over his body. After the admission to the hospital Mr. Stojkovic said to the doctors that he had been attacked by a group of five-six Kosovo Albanian males while he was taking care of the cattle on his farm in Paralovo, Novo Brdo Municipality, near Gnjilane, said Dr. Vipic.

Albanians beat him by the handle of a gun on his head, hit him with their feet and when they thought that he was dead they wrapped him up by a nylon covering and hurled him into the neighboring brook. After more than an hour Stojkovic regained consciousness and managed to get out from the nylon bag. He crawled to the first Serbian home and they immediately took him to the Gracanica clinic from which he was urgently transported to the Kosovska Mitrovica hospital for further treatment.

At the (North) Mitrovica hospital Mr. Stojkovic was offered urgent medical assistance and his situation is relatively stable at the moment although the physicians cannot predict the final outcome due to very specific kind of injuries.

ELDERLY SERB AGAIN BEATEN BY ETHNIC ALBANIANS NEAR GNJILANE

Sunday, Nov 10, 17:00 Aleksandar Stojkovic, a 75 year-old Kosovo Serb from the Gnjilane region, sustained serious injuries after being beaten up by a group of five or six Albanian extremists as he was grazing his livestock on Sunday afternoon at about 15,00 hours. Stojkovic sustained a broken jaw, broken ribs and serious head injuries after being pistol-whipped by his attackers. They they wrapped him in nylon and pushed him into a stream.

How Long Will the Perpetrators of These Crimes Enjoy Immunity (collection of photos showing some Kosovo Serb victims who were killed or suffered by ethnic Albanian extremists after the beginning of the UN/KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Neither of these cases have been fully investigated and resolved by the UN police  (Please be advised that the following photo in larger format contains disturbing details that may not be suitable for some of our recipients. Click and enlarge the photo at your own discretion.)
  (legend: destroyed Nis Express bus - 11 victims, unidentified Serb woman beaten in Kosovo Polje by ethnic Albanians, body of Slavoljub Radunovic killed in Pec in 2000, ruins of the Holy Trinity church near Pec, Bogdan Bukumiric one of victims of the Gorazdevac river massacre Aug 2003, Bishop Amfilohije reads requiem service to three Serbs slaughtered in Belo Polje near Pec, Borka Basic 81 killed with her son prof. Basic in Pristina by ethinc Albanians, bodies of 17 Serb farmers killed in Staro Gracko July 99, Fr. Nenad Nespalic reads prayer over found bodies of abducted and killed Serbs near Pec)

More about the White Book of Crimes in Kosovo and Metohija

Bishop Artemije Meets With New Head of U.S. Office in Pristina

"Although the armed conflict ended four years ago," continued Bishop Artemije, "peace in Kosovo and Metohija has come only for the Albanians, while for the Serbs the time of suffering continues. Obilic, Gnjilane, Prizren and Gorazdevac are all witnesses to this fact, as well as 120 destroyed churches and monasteries", said Bishop Artemije

Head of U.S. mission in Pristina Ms. Marcie Ries meets with Bishop Artemije
in Gracanica Monastery, 02 Nov 2003

ERP KIM INFO SERVICE
Gracanica, 03 November 2003

Bishop Artemije of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija met yesterday in Gracanica Monastery with the new head of the U.S. Office in Pristina, Mrs. Marcie Ries, and her associates. Mrs. Reis informed Bishop Artemije that this was her first visit to Kosovo and Metohija, and that she was personally impressed by Serbian spirituality and culture, especially following her recent visits to Visoki Decani Monastery and the Pec Patriarchate.Bishop Artemije explained to Mrs. Reis that Visoki Decani, the Pec Patriarchate, Gracanica and Bogorodica Ljeviska /the Mother of God of Ljevis/ are not only cultural monuments that are a part of the world cultural heritage but also living spiritual centers.

"Monasteries are living cells of the living organism of the /Serbian Orthodox/ Church. They are witnesses of our existence, suffering and celebration of the Name of God," emphasized Bishop Artemije."Although the armed conflict ended four years ago," continued Bishop Artemije, "peace in Kosovo and Metohija has come only for the Albanians, while for the Serbs the time of suffering continues. Obilic, Gnjilane, Prizren and Gorazdevac are all witnesses to this fact, as well as 120 destroyed churches and monasteries. Never in recorded history have as many churches been destroyed in a single location, and the paradox is all the greater because this was done since the deployment of the UN mission and NATO forces in Kosovo and Metohija.

 Serbs find it hard to believe that it is possible to live better and more safely, with elementary human rights, when the perpetrators of even the most serious crimes, the murderers of the Stolic family and the children in Gorazdevac, the destroyers of churches and monasteries, and desecrators of cemeteries, continue to walk freely through Kosovo and Metohija. Therefore, it is essential," said the Bishop, "for the international community to apply the same principles for all crimes, so that Kosovo and Metohija can be multiethnic, so that everyone can have the same chances for progress, so that Serb returns and the restoration of numerous destroyed Serbian houses can begin. How much time will we need to complete Serb returns, asked Bishop Artemije, when in the past five years only about 1,000 Serbs have returned?

Accordingly, it is necessary to achieve certain standards prior to resolving the final status of Kosovo and Metohija, first and foremost, to ensure that the cities of Kosovo and Metohija do not remain monoethnic but become multiethnic once more. For example, formerly there were 10,000 Serbs in Prizren and now there are 60. Pristina was inhabited by some 40,000 Serbs, 200 of whom remain," explained Bishop Artemije.Mrs. Reis emphasized that the murder of the children in Gorazdevac had occurred immediately after her arrival in Kosovo and Metohija. For her, as a mother, the murder of children and the very thought that children could be murdered was inconceivable. She wished to attend the funeral services but did not do so out of respect for the wishes of the parents of the slain children. In order to avoid such tragedies in the future, Ms. Reis informed Bishop Artemije that during the course of the coming week a senior U.S. delegation will be coming to Kosovo to assist the UN Mission as part of the program for OPERATIONALIZATION OF STANDARDS to be based, according to Ms. Reis, on the building of a society with standardized institutions and enabling the return of displaced Serbs. The U.S. government has earmarked approximately 15 million dollars to assist such programs.

Mrs. Reis emphasized that Bishop Artemije, the Serbian Orthodox bishop in Kosovo and Metohija, has a very significant and important role for the U.S. government, and that he is expected to provide his valuable contribution and encouragement for the return of the Serbian people during the course of the process of operationalization of standards in Kosovo.Bishop Artemije stressed that he would like to encourage his people to return to their centuries-old homes but that it is necessary for support and encouragement to also come, first and foremost, from the international community. This implies the creation of necessary security conditions as well as elementary prerequisites for safe returns. We must not allow people to be attacked for no reason on city streets, like yesterday when a Serb was attacked from the back in Gnjilane and had to be transferred to the hospital in Vranje because of the severity of his injuries. "In the future before us, international representatives must be objective and unbiased toward all sides. This is the very reason why more frequent exchanges of opinion, such as this meeting, and discussion of all burning issues concerning the problems of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, are so necessary," concluded Bishop Artemije.

After the meeting, Ms. Reis and her associates toured the church of Gracanica and learned more about the history of this centuries-old spiritual center of the Serbian people. Bidding farewell to her hosts, the head of the U.S. Office in Pristina stated that she was impressed by the beauty of Gracanica Monastery.

CONTINUATION OF ETHNIC VIOLENCE AGAINST KOSOVO SERBS MAKES IT CLEAR WHAT EXTREMIST ALBANIAN LEADERS WANT
Bishop Artemije briefed new KFOR Commander Gen. Kammerhoff about the difficult position of the Serb community and the Church in Kosovo and Metohija

"My people and my Church have been brought to the verge of physical extinction and no one seems to have any solution how to prevent turning this Province into an ethnically cleansed Albanian territory" Bishop Artemije with the new KFOR Commander
 Lieutenant General Holger Kammerhoff (German Army), Gracanica, Oct 28, 2003

ERPKIM INFO-SERVICE
October 28, 2003

By continuation of ethnically motivated attacks against Kosovo Serbs and recent provocations and attacks on KFOR soldiers Kosovo Albanian extremists clearly demonstrate what kind of society they want to create out of Southern Serbian Province. It is not a modern democratic society in which all citizens would be equal in front of law, but an ethnic Albanian state in which there will be no place for other ethnicities and the Serbian Orthodox Church, said Bishop Artemije in his exclusive statement for the ERP KIM Info-Service after today's meeting with the new KFOR Commander Lt. Gen Holger Kammerhoff.Bishop Artemije briefed the German General during the meeting that the security and economic situation in which remaining Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija live today had not essentially changed. One cannot deny improvements in some other sectors but this has not affected the life of our people which remains more or less isolated in their enclaves, said the Bishop. There is no real progress in the process of returns of displaced Serbs, Kosovo cities have been systematically depopulated of Serbs, our people have no free access to regional medical and educational institutions which remain solely run by ethic Albanians. All Serb inscriptions have been systematically removed and the names of our towns and villages are being forcibly albanized. "My people and my Church have been brought to the verge of physical extinction and no one seems to have any solution how to prevent turning this Province into an ethnically cleansed territory", Bishop concluded emphatically.The Church is facing particularly difficult situation because our pastoral work is almost restricted to our tiny enclaves. More than 100 of our churches destroyed or damaged by ethnic Albanian extremists after the armed conflict in 1999 remain in ruins. So far we have not been able to reconstruct a single one of our damaged or destroyed shrines, because those who destroy them are still free and would do it again. In fact, extremism in Kosovo and Metohija has been legalized through political institutions which serve as a smoke screen for worst kind of ethnic discrimination and organized crime in Europe today, said Bishop Artemije.Murderers of the Gorazdevac children, Staro Gracko farmers, the Stolic family and the terrorists who blew up the Nis Express bus with dozens of Serb passengers are still freely walking along Kosovo's streets while the conspiracy of silence makes any investigation of crimes impossible. Political mentors of these murders without any shame make public statements that they will never face the justice.Bishop Artemije expressed his hope that KFOR will continue protecting Serbian people and their holy shrines and that reduction of troops must not be continued on the expense of security of the vulnerable population. Kosovo Serb community is dissatisfied with the work of local Kosovo police and UNMIK and the KFOR presence is still indispensable. We cannot have confidence in those who wore UCK uniforms just a few years ago. Bishop Artemije especially expressed his expectation that KFOR will continue special regime of protection and assistance for those monastic communities, primarily in Western Kosovo, which constitute the most valuable shrines of the Serbian Church and its people. Those monuments which survived centuries of Ottoman oppression and the post conflict barbarism of extremists must not be left unprotected.

At the end of his statement for the ERP KIM Info-service Bishop Artemije reiterated readiness of the Serb community to participate in building truly multiethnic institutions and society which will equally respect all its citizens regardless of its ethnicity and religions. But, Bishop said, we cannot support building of a society tailored only for Albanians who plan to destroy all traces of our cultural, spiritual and historical heritage. Our democratic right is to resist to such oppression and request protection from the international community.

KOSOVO SERB FARMERS UNDER FIRE
Seven Serbs from the village of Banje in the municipality of Srbica were shot at from submachine guns as they set out with two tractors to harvest apples from their property near the village of Radisevo, which is inhabited exclusively by ethnic Albanians.

Beta News Agency, Belgrade
October 27, 2003


SRBICA - Seven Serbs from the village of Banje in the municipality of Srbica were shot at from submachine guns as they set out with two tractors to harvest apples from their property near the village of Radisevo, which is inhabited exclusively by ethnic Albanians.

Village spokesman Milutin Kovacevic advised today that they were under fire at from several directions for over an hour and that they were extremely lucky that no one was hurt or killed.

The Serbs sought sanctuary in the nearby woods. Individual shots continued even after Danish KFOR troops rushed to their assistance and provided an escort so they could return home, said Kovacevic.

Banje and the neighboring village of Suvo Grlo are the only two villages in the municipality of Srbica where Serbs are still living, completely cut off from their surroundings and subject to frequent attacks by their Albanian neighbors.

TWO EXTREMIST ATTACKS ON SERB HOUSES IN OBILIC
On Saturday (October 25) unknown person threw a hand grenade on the home of Dragan Arsic, a Kosovo Serb who lives in the Cerska street in Obilic. No one was injured in the attack and the house suffered minor material damage. Three hours after the bomb attack unknown attackers opened machine gun fire on the neighboring Serb house of Vidosav Stolic.

ERP KIM, other Serb media
Oct 27, 2003

On Saturday (October 25) unknown person threw a hand grenade on the home of Dragan Arsic, a Kosovo Serb who lives in the Cerska street in Obilic. No one was injured in the attack and the house suffered minor material damage. This is the third bomb attack on the home of Arsic family in the last few months. The house is situated a few hundred meters away from the home of Stolic family which was massacred in May 2003.

Three hours after the bomb attack unknown attackers opened machine gun fire on the neighboring Serb house of Vidosav Stolic. No one was injured in the attack but thirty holes remained on the front facade and the entrance door. At the time of the attack in the house were Vidosav (62), his wife Slavica (60) and her sister in law. Their children were evacuated to central Serbia after the murder of their relatives, in the other Stolic family house.

Novica Stolic, a relative of Vidosav, explained that due to recurrent power restrictions and mismanagement in the neighboring Obilic Power Plant, now run and administered exclusively by ethnic Albanians, there appeared a rumor that Serb engineers and workers who were expelled in summer 1999 would be called back to work. Stolic and other Obilic Serbs believe that these latest attacks are the message to the Serbs who would like to return to their homes.

As in all similar cases perpetrators of these attacks have not been identified by the police. After the incidents all 300 remaining Serbs from Obilic town gathered and staged a protest requesting better protection by UN Mission and KFOR. Since the end of the conflict in 1999. ethnic Albanians introduced the new name of the town - Kastriot which they try to impose as official name of the city like in many other instances throughout Kosovo Province.

KOSOVO SERB DIES OF STARVATION

"He was completely devastated by hunger and physically resembled the inmates of [the WWII concentration camp] Auschwitz. Although he lived in downtown Urosevac, he had eaten nothing for more than 15 days because his Albanian neighbors stopped bringing him food and he did not dare venture out on the street," said Dr. Nebojsa Srbljak, the internist who treated Velikinac.

Beta News Agency, Belgrade
October 17, 2003

(photo Beta: Today there are some 15 Serbs living in Urosevac and formerly there were 10,000. Once a week they are escorted by international forces to do their shopping in the closest Serb town, Strpce)


KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Zivorad Velikinac (65) of Urosevac passed away at Kosovska Mitrovica Hospital after being brought to the hospital two days ago by KFOR members for treatment for starvation.

"He was completely devastated by hunger and physically resembled the inmates of [the WWII concentration camp] Auschwitz. Although he lived in downtown Urosevac, he had eaten nothing for more than 15 days because his Albanian neighbors stopped bringing him food and he did not dare venture out on the street," said Dr. Nebojsa Srbljak, the internist who treated Velikinac.

After Velikinac's demise last night, his body was claimed by relatives. He had no children. He will be buried in Kraljevo.

Today there are some 15 Serbs living in Urosevac and formerly there were 10,000. Once a week they are escorted by international forces to do their shopping in the closest Serb town, Strpce.

ELDERLY KOSOVO SERBS BETWEEN CHOICE OF BEING MURDERED OR STARVED OF HUNGER

SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH SHOCKED BY LACK OF CARE FOR ELDERLY SERBS IN MAJOR KOSOVO CITIES

ERPKIM Info-service
Gracanica, October 17, 2003

  Bishop Artemije expressed today his shock and deep regret because of death of Zivorad Velikinac, one of 15 remaining elderly Serbs in Urosevac who died of starvation.

 "It is incomprehensible that no one in Kosovo cares for these poor people who are left to slow dying. Regrettably, Serbian Orthodox Church and its clerics do not have freedom of movement and cannot regularly visit their isolated parishioners. Our pastoral work is limited only within Serb enclaves. Most of our isolated elderly people do not have normal access to shops and medical institutions, Albanian hooligans break their windows and threaten to kill them every day. Sometimes their Albanian neighbors give them some food to survive but these are rare examples because such good minded Albanians can suffer themselves for showing solidarity with Serbs. I am afraid, this will not be the only case of starvation because humanitarian organizations mostly employ local Albanian personnel who simply want all Serbs to die or leave their homes. Such silent ethnic cleansing of Kosovo cities in front of eyes of the democratic world deserves utmost condemnation", said Bishop Artemije to the ERP KIM Info-Service. Such inhuman society, which we have in Kosovo today, is unique in Europe and the civilized world, and I am at the loss to find a proper word how hatred can conquer the hearts of so many that they even do not show mercy towards the elderly and children.An elderly Kosovo Serb, Janko Jankovic (72) who was beaten in Prizren two weeks ago and Mrs. Sofijana Jovanovic (72) who was shot and wounded in Gnjilane a few days later are only some of the recent attacks on elderly Kosovo Serbs who are deprived of basic security and social care. Direct responsibility for such indifference towards these poor people who struggle to survive in their homes desite ethnic hatred and overall discrimination lies on UNMIK and local Albanian structures which build society only to serve the needs of ethnic Albanians", added Bishop Artemije.

Once again I appeal on all responsible institutions in UNMIK not to allow ethnic cleansing of our remaining elderly people who have done no harm to anyone but only want to stay in their homes and spend their last years in peace and dignity.

Newsletter 14 October, 2003 - Second Edition
SPEECH BY DR. NEBOJSA COVIC AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE VIENNA TALKS, October 14

Newsletter 14 October, 2003

SERB NATIONAL COUNCIL - ETHNIC ALBANIAN DELEGATION IN VIENNA DOES NOT REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF ALL CITIZENS OF KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

"THOSE WHO FIGHT AGAINST THE DEAD CAN NEVER WIN", Bishop Artemije
The cross of Mirka Stefanovic in Decani town Orthodox Christian
 cemetery was burned and broken and her tombstone was smashed into pieces by
ethnic Albanian vandals (Sep 2002). Decani Municipal authorities never publicly
condemned this and similar acts of vandalism.

SERBIAN GRAVES DUG OVER IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

According to recent updates secured by "Novosti" a total of 5,177 grave markers have been destroyed on 211 Serbian Orthodox cemeteries. Almost all of these are beyond repair. In terms of numbers, this means that two thirds of the total number of grave markers in these cemeteries have been destroyed, as well as entire fences and all the chapels.

Vecernje Novosti daily, Belgrade
September 25, 2003

D. Damjanovic

PRISTINA - A unique appeal from Serb communities in Kosovo and Metohija has been sent in a letter recently sent to numerous world addresses: "Ladies and gentlemen, lift up your voices in protest against the barbarism that is spreading throughout Kosovo and Metohija, unprecedented in any civilization."

The statistics cited in the appeal letter for the salvation of Serbian holy shrines have caused justifiable shock and concern among the domestic public, too.

"Everyone is well aware of the fact that since the arrival of the UN in Kosovo and Metohija 114 churches and monasteries have been destroyed and set on fire, while more than 400 holy shrines with icons and iconostases have been desecrated. The material damage alone is in the millions of euros even though these items are priceless. According to some estimates, an entire new city with surrounding hamlets could have been built for the same value of what has been reduced to ashes and dust. It sounds incredible but it is true," said Dr. Slobodan Kostic, a university professor who is also an expert on Kosovo and Metohija.

According to recent updates secured by "Novosti" a total of 5,177 grave markers have been destroyed on 211 Serbian Orthodox cemeteries. Almost all of these are beyond repair. In terms of numbers, this means that two thirds of the total number of grave markers in these cemeteries have been destroyed, as well as entire fences and all the chapels.

"In the last four years all grave markers and tombs have been completely destroyed in 51 cemeteries and within a short time we can expect these areas to become the pastures or arable fields of those who are destroying them.

"This is the case, for example, in the villages of the municipalities of Podujevo, Djurakovac, Srbica, beneath Cicavica, near Vucitrn and so on. While we Serbs in Kosovska Mitrovica protect the Albanian cemetery in the northern part of the city, in the southern part they have destroyed 500 of our grave markers, as well as breaking 200 in the Pristina cemetery, even more in Pec and almost 80 grave markers in Gnjilane," adds Dr. Blagoje Danilovic.

If we take into account that 11 cemeteries have been completely dug over and that during the last four years 430 locations have been left completely without their Serb populations, we can understand why the appeal letter to the global public asks the question whether Kosovo and Metohija should be proclaimed the largest graveyard of cemeteries and churches in the world.

It all sounds so horrible, awful and disgusting but it is true.

Even the ruins of monasteries, churches and cemeteries can only be visited with an escort of soldiers and police. It is possible to get such an escort but it is rare because when people visit the cemeteries where even their deceased family members have no peace, they leave with even greater despair, pain and suffering.

Barbarism in the southern Province has grown to a greater extent than was present during the time and fascism or any of the difficult times that the Serbs endured for centuries in this part of the Province.

GARBAGE DUMPS
Some Serbian cemeteries are already becoming local garbage dumps. This is what occurred in Djakovica, where French soldiers from World War I were also buried. After the barbarians removed the markers, fence and chapel, they began to dump truckloads of city garbage there, which now covers the graves of the dead Serbs and Frenchmen. And everyone is apparently powerless to do anything to change this.

BUSTS
In all cities of Kosovo and Metohija all busts of national heroes and eminent Serbs have been removed, street names have been changed, all markers reminding of Serbs and Serbia have been broken.

In the southern, Albanian-inhabited part of Kosovska Mitrovica, a monument to the Russian consul Shcherbyn, who was himself killed by the Albanians, has been torn down, and another monument is being built to replace it dedicated to one of the terrorists from the ranks of the KLA.

A broken tombstone in Naklo, near Pec

The Serbian National Assembly of Metohija, the Kosmet and Zora associations of displaced and expelled persons from Kosovo and Metohija, and the Association of Families of Kidnapped and Missing Persons have expressed support for the demands of the youth.

First lunch for the returnees

Lukavac returnees in Osojane

40 SERBS FROM 21 DISPLACED FAMILIES RETURNED TO KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
"If it were up to UNMIK only Kosovo Serbs would not return in 200 years..."

ERPKIM Info-Service
Istok, Suvi Lukavac, 26. September 2003


A group of 40 Serbs, representatives of 21 Serbian families including all ten members of the Dubic family arrived to Suvi Lukavac village, near Istok, yesterday late afternoon. They are the first group of displaced Serbs who decided to return to their village destroyed by ethnic Albanian extremists after the war in 1999.

Before the war 46 Serbian families lived in Suvi Lukavac village. After visiting their destroyed homes the returnees from the first group were transported to the neighboring Serb village of Osojane. There they will be provided temporary accomodation until Monday when the reconstruction of their houses at Suvi Lukavac is expected to begin.

Serb returnees from Suvi Lukavac will be escorted by UNMIK and KFOR to their village every day in order to assist reconstruction of their new homes.

The displaced Serbs from Suvi Lukavac fled Kosovo after the end of the conflict in 1999 and spent four years in refugee camps in Kraljevo, Belgrade, Kragujevac and Gornji Milanovac.The return is organized by the Working group for returns and the "Pecki okrug" headed by Milivoje Ribac. It is expected that 200 Serbs will return to this village, out of 350 who had lived in Suvi Lukavac before the war.

The food, fuel and clothing for the returnees were provided by the German Government and the Danish Council.

Displaced Serbs are generally dissatisfied with the present UNMIK policy on returns which is seen as one of the major obstacles to the return process. "If it were up to UNMIK only, Serbs would not return in 200 years", said Goran Pavlovic from Istok. On the other hand Serb returnees are full of praises for KFOR which has provided military protection necessary to survive in a hostile surrounding.

The head of "Pecki okrug" Milivoje Ribac said that the Serb enclave of the "Osojane valley" beside 300 returnees who had already returned to the neighboring villages will now count 500 returnees alltogether. The returns to Saljinovac and Tucep villages are expected to occur soon.

Refugee aid unpacked

Several children have arrived too

71 - YEAR OLD SERB HEAVILY BEATEN IN PRIZREN

Two young men of Albanian nationality came out of the building of the sports center not far from the Jankovic house and first began to verbally provoke Janko and Dostana. Then one of the young men lunged at Janko and began to beat him on the head with a stick; when he had finished, the other young Albanian continued the beating. The abuse of the Serb man lasted almost half an hour while his wife Dosta watched in tears. During the beating Jankovic lost consciousness and lost a considerable amount of blood. None of the Albanian passers-by stopped to offer assistance or chastise the attackers; some of the more curious lingered to observe the public lynching.

ERP KIM Info Service

September 26, 2003

On Thursday, September 25, 2003 at about 15,15 hours two unknown Albanian young men physically attacked Janko Jankovic (born 1931), a Serb man from Prizren, as he was returning with his wife Dostana from the city and inflicted serious wounds to his head and arms. Two young men of Albanian nationality came out of the building of the sports center not far from the Jankovic house and first began to verbally provoke Janko and Dostana. Then one of the young men lunged at Janko and began to beat him on the head with a stick; when he had finished, the other young Albanian continued the beating. The abuse of the Serb man lasted almost half an hour while his wife Dosta watched in tears. During the beating Jankovic lost consciousness and lost a considerable amount of blood. None of the Albanian passers-by stopped to offer assistance or chastise the attackers; some of the more curious lingered to observe the public lynching. Finally, after the attackers had already fled, an UNMIK and Kosovo police patrol (according to the police report it was a KFOR patrol) appeared and transferred the beaten and unconscious Jankovic to Prizren Hospital, where he received medical treatment.According to the statement of Fr. Miron Kosac, the representative of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren in Prizren, this was not the first Albanian attack against Jankovic. He and his family have previously been the victims of numerous physical and verbal attacks when they decided to remain in Prizren. Janko's wife Dostana was recently accosted by Albanian youths who told her: "Go to Serbia already, skijo [derogatory term for Serbs]" to which Dostana courageously retorted: "I'm not leaving from Prizren, the city of Serbian kings. If you want Albania, you are free to go there."The wounded Jankovic was visited today by a medical team from Simonida Hospital in Gracanica. Sister Dr. Irina Petrovic examined Jankovic who was released from the hospital and is currently recuperating at hope. The medical team travelled to Prizren at great risk in the Gracanica Monastery ambulance because their Kosovo police escort was cancelled at the last minute.

In the city of Prizren there are currently some 60 primarily elderly Serbs. According to Diocese representatives, recently they have been able to move more freely through the city but intolerance and ethnic discimination is felt at every step, which is one of the main reasons why there are no Serb returnees to the city itself. The majority of the remaining Serb homes are surrounded by barbed wire and some elderly Serbs regularly place barricades on their doors at night. The residence of the Bishop of Raska and Prizren and the Orthodox Cathedral of St. George (Sv. Djrodje) are still under the military protection of KFOR, and the priests who tend to the remaining Serbs and the property of the Church move through the city only when escorted by German KFOR troops.

SERBIAN HOUSE IN ORAHOVAC ROBBED AND SET ON FIREERPKIM Info-service
Orahovac, September 26, 2003Serb sources from Orahovac confirmed to the ERP KIM Info Service today that in the night between Thursday and Friday (25/26 September) ethnic Albanians robbed the family home of Novica Filipovic and set the house on fire. At the time of this incidents the Filipovics were not at home. The fire was extinguished a few hours after midnight.