Metropolitanate of Montenegro and Littora: Report

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Pravoslavlje Press

Report

Belgrade, July 2, 1999

The representatives of the Serbs and of the Albanians from Kosovo have met under the auspices of the representatives of the international forces, Michael Jackson and Sergio Vieira de Mello, in Pristina today. The Albanian side has been represented by: Hashim Taqi, Kolj Berisa, Redzep Cosja, Bljerim Salja, and the Serbian side by: Rt. Rev. Artemije, the Bishop of Raska and Prizren, Momcilo Trajkovic, protosyncellos Sava Janjic, and Dusan Ristic. The meeting has lasted for 7 hours and ended in the issuing of the joint Declaration, which each of them signed.

Rt. Rev. Atanasije, the Bishop of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, has spent most of his time in Gracanica monastery today.

Serbian Patriarch Pavle, has served the morning liturgy in the monastery of the Patriarchate of Pec.

Metropolitan Amfilohije has visited villages in the municipality of Pec: Vitomirica, Zahac, Romule, Glavicica. In the village Glavicica, Metropolitan has sought for the corpse of the murdered Serb, Milos Ralevic. The Albanians killed Milos by an axe, on his threshold. Metropolitan has not found the corpse, but the Albanians have confirmed that Milos was killed; one Albanian family has already moved in his house.

In the same village, in the house of Cirkovic family, two female persons' corpses have been found under a walnut tree: the corpse of Radoslava Cirkovic, aged 60, whose scull was smashed, and the corpse of another woman of the same family. It is evident that both of them were raped before the murder. Metropolitan has served funeral service for the murdered women on the spot, and they have been buried there.

The remains of the body of Brano Vulevic, who was burned to death in his stable, were found in Glavicica. Metropolitan has served the funeral service for him also, and the corpse has been buried there.

Metropolitan has sought for the corpses of Marko Gasic and Muslim Rasim Hamzic, but without success. The house of Gasic family was burned, and in the house of Hamzic family Metropolitan has found Rasim's sister Atema, all shaken due to experienced sufferings, who he has taken into the monastery of the Patriarchate of Pec.

Today, priest Miroslav Popadic has buried Milena Stojanovic, who was murdered by the Albanians on Vidovdan, in the village Veliki Alas, near Lipljane. It was obviously destined that the Albanians should dig a grave to her, since the Serbs moved out after her murder.

While speaking to the priests in Pristina this evening, I have asked what is the noise that is heard, why all the volleys and cheers, and the priest has answered: "Those are the Albanians celebrating their victory and the proclamation of their republic, which was arranged for yesterday". A few moments more, I, dumb and breathless, have listened to the cheerful cries: "NATO, NATO!!!"

Bishop Atanasije
Rakita

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