OEA PRESS RELEASE:
Metropolitan Christopher issues
OPEN LETTER OF PROTEST
LIBERTYVILLE - 10 January 2002:
Throughout our civilized world, year-end
celebrations mark festal seasons, both
sacred and secular, as a time of joy
and reflection. Orthodox Christianity is
no exception. However, this year
and yet again, the Serbian Orthodox
celebration of Christmas in Kosovo
and Metohija was tragically marred by
"violence and barbarity by Albanian
extremists." With these words, Yugoslav
President Vojislav Kostunica
strongly condemned recent outbreaks of
violence, coupled with a warning that
the situation in the province of Kosovo
and Metohija had not improved since
the November 2001 elections.
On Christmas Eve (according to the
Julian Calendar), Sunday, 6 January 2002,
a Serbian shop owner, Dragoljub Markovic
(age 36, father of 3) was killed
when he tripped a wire stretched across
the back entrance to his shop in
Kosovska Kamenica and set off an
explosive devise. This incident - one of
many in an ongoing series of terrorist
acts against the Serbian and other
non-Albanian populations of Kosovo and
Metohija - despite the presence of
so-called international peacekeeping
forces, triggered protests in the
streets of Kamenica until the man's
funeral on Christmas Day, 7 January
2002. Ironically, the principles of
"peace on earth and good will among
humanity" are clearly forsaken in Kosovo
and Metohija.
Kosovo Serbs have been openly urged to
participate in voter registration
and in past elections in return for
guarantees from UNMIK - the United
Nations Mission in Kosovo. Despite strong
participation in the electoral process, it
seems that little has changed in terms
of basic human rights and indeed, in
the very right to life itself. Organized
crime and discrimination against
non-Albanians is epidemic; 200,000 Serbs
(2/3rds of the prewar Serb
population) have fled; 50,000 Roma, Slav
Moslems, Croat Catholics and others
had to leave; more than 1,000 Serbs have
been killed; over 1,200 abducted
and are still missing. This is ethnic
cleansing of the first order.
Approximately 120,000 Serbs have lost
employment overnight; the Serbian
language is completely banished from
public life; all Serb inscriptions have
been systematically removed; thousands
of Serb books in public libraries
have been burned; Serb cultural
monuments, including 110 churches and
monasteries have been destroyed; and
Albanians greatly pressure Serbs to
sell their property under threats and
extortion. Refusals result in example
torching, killings and grenade attacks.
When will it end?
Kosovo is still ruled by apartheid. We
agree with President Kostunica who
stated: "Kosovo Albanians must decide if
they envisage a serious change of
policy towards peace and stabilization...
or whether they intend to
continue to live within a context of
violence." In the absence of decisive
action by the United Nations and NATO
against terrorism and violence, which
occurs continually in their very
presence, this choice obviously has been
made since it is apparently unopposed.
Therefore - as this directly impedes
upon our American security policies in
our stand against terrorism everywhere
in the world- on behalf of the
Serbian Orthodox Church in the United
States of America and Canada, we
openly call upon the Honorable President
of the United States of America
George W. Bush, and the Honorable
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, to do
what is vitally necessary in moving the
United Nations and NATO to act
swiftly and decisively against terrorism
in Kosovo and Metohija, restoring
civilized law and order, returning all
the refugees to their homes, and
together working toward peace in the
world.
+Metropolitan Christopher
President
Episcopal Council of the Serbian
Orthodox Church in the United States of
America and Canada
* * * * *
For further information please contact:
Fr. Irinej Dobrijevic, Executive Director
Office of External Affairs
2311 M Street NW, Suite 402
Washington, DC 20037
202-463-8643 (Telephone)
202-463-8645 (Fax)
Metropolitan Christopher issues
OPEN LETTER OF PROTEST
LIBERTYVILLE - 10 January 2002:
Throughout our civilized world, year-end
celebrations mark festal seasons, both
sacred and secular, as a time of joy
and reflection. Orthodox Christianity is
no exception. However, this year
and yet again, the Serbian Orthodox
celebration of Christmas in Kosovo
and Metohija was tragically marred by
"violence and barbarity by Albanian
extremists." With these words, Yugoslav
President Vojislav Kostunica
strongly condemned recent outbreaks of
violence, coupled with a warning that
the situation in the province of Kosovo
and Metohija had not improved since
the November 2001 elections.
On Christmas Eve (according to the
Julian Calendar), Sunday, 6 January 2002,
a Serbian shop owner, Dragoljub Markovic
(age 36, father of 3) was killed
when he tripped a wire stretched across
the back entrance to his shop in
Kosovska Kamenica and set off an
explosive devise. This incident - one of
many in an ongoing series of terrorist
acts against the Serbian and other
non-Albanian populations of Kosovo and
Metohija - despite the presence of
so-called international peacekeeping
forces, triggered protests in the
streets of Kamenica until the man's
funeral on Christmas Day, 7 January
2002. Ironically, the principles of
"peace on earth and good will among
humanity" are clearly forsaken in Kosovo
and Metohija.
Kosovo Serbs have been openly urged to
participate in voter registration
and in past elections in return for
guarantees from UNMIK - the United
Nations Mission in Kosovo. Despite strong
participation in the electoral process, it
seems that little has changed in terms
of basic human rights and indeed, in
the very right to life itself. Organized
crime and discrimination against
non-Albanians is epidemic; 200,000 Serbs
(2/3rds of the prewar Serb
population) have fled; 50,000 Roma, Slav
Moslems, Croat Catholics and others
had to leave; more than 1,000 Serbs have
been killed; over 1,200 abducted
and are still missing. This is ethnic
cleansing of the first order.
Approximately 120,000 Serbs have lost
employment overnight; the Serbian
language is completely banished from
public life; all Serb inscriptions have
been systematically removed; thousands
of Serb books in public libraries
have been burned; Serb cultural
monuments, including 110 churches and
monasteries have been destroyed; and
Albanians greatly pressure Serbs to
sell their property under threats and
extortion. Refusals result in example
torching, killings and grenade attacks.
When will it end?
Kosovo is still ruled by apartheid. We
agree with President Kostunica who
stated: "Kosovo Albanians must decide if
they envisage a serious change of
policy towards peace and stabilization...
or whether they intend to
continue to live within a context of
violence." In the absence of decisive
action by the United Nations and NATO
against terrorism and violence, which
occurs continually in their very
presence, this choice obviously has been
made since it is apparently unopposed.
Therefore - as this directly impedes
upon our American security policies in
our stand against terrorism everywhere
in the world- on behalf of the
Serbian Orthodox Church in the United
States of America and Canada, we
openly call upon the Honorable President
of the United States of America
George W. Bush, and the Honorable
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, to do
what is vitally necessary in moving the
United Nations and NATO to act
swiftly and decisively against terrorism
in Kosovo and Metohija, restoring
civilized law and order, returning all
the refugees to their homes, and
together working toward peace in the
world.
+Metropolitan Christopher
President
Episcopal Council of the Serbian
Orthodox Church in the United States of
America and Canada
* * * * *
For further information please contact:
Fr. Irinej Dobrijevic, Executive Director
Office of External Affairs
2311 M Street NW, Suite 402
Washington, DC 20037
202-463-8643 (Telephone)
202-463-8645 (Fax)