Tadić in message of peace, incidents reported

Serbian President Boris Tadic this morning attended Christmas Day liturgy in the monastery of Visoki (High) Decani in Kosovo. He was joined at the medieval Serbian Orthodox holy place by EULEX chief Xavier de Marnhac, and KFOR commander Erhard Drews, according to reports. Tadic in message of peace, incidents reported Tadic reiterated on Saturday in Visoki Decani that "he will never recognize Kosovo's independence". When reporters at the monastery asked him whether "he will ever recognize Kosovo", Tadic said his answer is already known, and brief: "You know my answer. It is short and clear - never." The president arrived at the monastery on Friday, Orthodox Christmas Eve, when he talked with monks and attended the burning of oak tree branches (badnjak). Tadic spent the night at the monastery and attended the Christmas liturgy in the morning. After the service, Tadic sent a message of peace to all residents of Kosovo and representatives of the international community. All I want today is that all of us in Kosovo and in our common space under the European sky establish peace and understanding, Tadic said. "Serbs, (ethnic) Albanians and representatives of the international community alike, we need to understand what is our existence and what is our role, which is to understand each other, to support each other, to provide a safe life for the children who will come after us, regardless of faith, regardless of nationality," Tadic said in a statement after the Christmas liturgy. Asked about Friday's attacks on his convoy as he was arriving in Kosovo, Tadic said his message is short and clear, that he does not react to aggressive behavior and that his message to everyone is a message of peace. "Today is Christmas, and the only message that can be sent is peace and a peaceful message to all, even those who were very aggressive last night," he said. The monastery, located in Metohija, is the biggest and best preserved medieval monastery in Serbia, known for its 14th century frescoes. It holds the holy relics of its founder Serbian King Stefan Decanski and several other saints. The town of Decani is now populated exclusively by ethnic Albanians, while the Serb holy place is guarded by Italian KFOR soldiers. (Tanjug) Tadic's convoy stoned Activists of the radical ethnic Albanian Self-Determination opposition party in the parliament of Kosovo threw stones on Friday night in the center of Decani at the convoy of vehicles in which President of Serbia Boris Tadic was traveling. Tadic was on his way to the Visoki Decani monastery where he will spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. While the convoy was passing through the center of Decani, in southern Kosovo, Self-Determination activists threw stones at cars in the column moving towards the monastery and one stone hit the president's car, officials accompanying the president told Tanjug. Several stones also hit the vehicles which accompanied Tadic. The movement's members protested earlier on Friday in the center of Decani and later in Pec, but EULEX, KFOR and the Kosovo police did not allow more serious excesses. Kosovo police (KPS) deployed numerous members in the village and near the monastery, said reports.. Tanjug

Tadić in message of peace, incidents reported

Tadić reiterated on Saturday in Visoki Dečani that "he will never recognize Kosovo's independence".

When reporters at the monastery asked him whether "he will ever recognize Kosovo", Tadić said his answer is already known, and brief:

"You know my answer. It is short and clear - never."

The president arrived at the monastery on Friday, Orthodox Christmas Eve, when he talked with monks and attended the burning of oak tree branches (badnjak).

Tadić spent the night at the monastery and attended the Christmas liturgy in the morning.

After the service, Tadić sent a message of peace to all residents of Kosovo and representatives of the international community.

All I want today is that all of us in Kosovo and in our common space under the European sky establish peace and understanding, Tadić said.

"Serbs, (ethnic) Albanians and representatives of the international community alike, we need to understand what is our existence and what is our role, which is to understand each other, to support each other, to provide a safe life for the children who will come after us, regardless of faith, regardless of nationality," Tadić said in a statement after the Christmas liturgy.

Asked about Friday's attacks on his convoy as he was arriving in Kosovo, Tadić said his message is short and clear, that he does not react to aggressive behavior and that his message to everyone is a message of peace.

"Today is Christmas, and the only message that can be sent is peace and a peaceful message to all, even those who were very aggressive last night," he said.

The monastery, located in Metohija, is the biggest and best preserved medieval monastery in Serbia, known for its 14th century frescoes.

It holds the holy relics of its founder Serbian King Stefan Dečanski and several other saints.

The town of Dečani is now populated exclusively by ethnic Albanians, while the Serb holy place is guarded by Italian KFOR soldiers.

Tadić's convoy stoned

Activists of the radical ethnic Albanian Self-Determination opposition party in the parliament of Kosovo threw stones on Friday night in the center of Dečani at the convoy of vehicles in which President of Serbia Boris Tadić was traveling.

Tadić was on his way to the Visoki Dečani monastery where he will spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

While the convoy was passing through the center of Dečani, in southern Kosovo, Self-Determination activists threw stones at cars in the column moving towards the monastery and one stone hit the president's car, officials accompanying the president told Tanjug.

Several stones also hit the vehicles which accompanied Tadić.

The movement's members protested earlier on Friday in the center of Dečani and later in Pec, but EULEX, KFOR and the Kosovo police did not allow more serious excesses.

Kosovo police (KPS) deployed numerous members in the village and near the monastery, said reports..