Tadić "first president to visit Kosovo"

President Boris Tadic has arrived in Kosovo and is attending midnight Easter liturgy in High Decani monastery in Kosovo. But the Kosovo Albanian authorities view this visit as a political provocation. Tadic "first president to visit Kosovo" At the same time, UNMIK considers Tadic's visit to be private and in line with normal procedure. The Albanian language media in Pristina are particularly stressing the fact that the president's security includes members of the Serbian police, MUP. UNMIK police say this, too, is in line with normal procedure. Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci said Saturday that Tadic will be "the first president of a country to visit the independent and sovereign state of Kosovo". Proof of this, Thaci believes, is a sign that Tadic will see as he crosses into the province, reading, "Welcome to the republic of Kosovo". "In this way, Tadic will make history as the president of Serbia who recognized the new reality in Kosovo," Thaci was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, Kosovo police, KPS, told the daily Koha Ditore they "cannot prevent the Serbian police escort, since UNMIK allowed it". The newspaper also quotes the UNMIK "normal procedure" explanation. Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu yesterday slammed Tadic's decision to visit the monastery, and said it had political propaganda as its motive. Unlike Thaci, Sejdiu believes that the move "does not contribute to the building of inter-state relations between Kosovo and Serbia".

Tadić "first president to visit Kosovo"

At the same time, UNMIK considers Tadić's visit to be private and in line with normal procedure.

The Albanian language media in Priština are particularly stressing the fact that the president's security includes members of the Serbian police, MUP.

UNMIK police say this, too, is in line with normal procedure.

Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci said Saturday that Tadić will be "the first president of a country to visit the independent and sovereign state of Kosovo".

Proof of this, Thaci believes, is a sign that Tadić will see as he crosses into the province, reading, "Welcome to the republic of Kosovo".

"In this way, Tadić will make history as the president of Serbia who recognized the new reality in Kosovo," Thaci was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Kosovo police, KPS, told the daily Koha Ditore they "cannot prevent the Serbian police escort, since UNMIK allowed it".

The newspaper also quotes the UNMIK "normal procedure" explanation.

Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu yesterday slammed Tadić's decision to visit the monastery, and said it had political propaganda as its motive.

Unlike Thaci, Sejdiu believes that the move "does not contribute to the building of inter-state relations between Kosovo and Serbia".