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# SI: Three Serbs Kidnapped in Kosovo
# SI: Terror Against Kosovo Serbs Continued
# SI:UNHCR condemns attacks on Serbs and Gypsies
# Orthodox Press: Kosovo and Metohija Chronicle, July 18
# Orthodox Press: Kosovo and Metohija Chronicle, July 17
# Orthodox Press: Kosovo and Metohija Chronicle, July 16
# Orthodox Press: Kosovo and Metohija Chronicle, July 15

 
Three Serbs missing
July 17, 1999

 Pristina, July 17 (Tanjug) - Three citizens of Serb nationality, one from Smerderevo and two from Pristina disappeared on Friday in the vicinity of Gnjilane, near the village of Brasaljce on Friday together with their truck, Tanjug learnt in the Center for peace and tolerance in Pristina.
      The Center assumes that the three citizens were kidnapped.
     Unindentified Albanians robbed several garages owned by Serbs and Albanians in Pristina downtown on Friday night and robbery of a car owned by a Goranac was noted as well, the Center said.
      Persons accidentally walking by reported to the Center an attempt of damaging and demolishing of Sveti Spas temple in Pristina on Friday.
      It is a temple not yet completely built where from Albanians have dragged away a bigger amount of sand and building material by a truck on Saturday, the Center said.
      Several reports by non-Albanian citizens that they were threaten by physical liquidation and disturbed by Albanian extremists were noted as well.
      The Center also said that Albanian extremists have broken into the apartment of Dusanka Tomic in Kupiste, Pristina on Saturday morning and stolen the property documents of the apartment at the time when she was out to the nearby shop to buy some bread.
      During the last night, there were some less calls and reports of the citizens than usual, the Center said, so it was relatively peaceful.

 
TERROR AGAINST KOSOVO SERBS CONTINUED
July 17, 1999

PRISTINA, July 16 (Tanjug)- Ethnic-Albanian extremists wounded Svetislav Etijapa in the center of the Kosovo and Metohija capital of Pristina late Thursday.
     Etijapa was taken to hospital by KFOR and is not in a critical condition.
     Several houses were on fire near the Pristina suburb of Vranjevac Friday night, the Center said.
     After receiving many threats from ethnic-Albanian extremists, Radul Dabisaljevic of Pristina was abducted two days ago, while moving out of his apartment, together with two workers who were helping him.
     Dabisavljevic was released Friday but the terrorists kept the truck with his belongings. Nothing is known about the fate of the two abducted workers, the Center said.
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Vucitrn, July 16 (Tanjug) - Albanian extremists seriously damaged, by setting fire at it, the well-known medieval church Samodreza in the village of same name, at 8 kilometers from Vucitrn, as well as the church of the Holy Trinity in the refugee habitation Velika Reka near Vucitrn, reports Tanjug from the community authorities in Vucitrn.
      The arson damaged the icons and other objects of value in Samodreza, while the Albanian terrorists desecrated the church of the Holy Trinity in Velika Reka, build four years ago.
      In the refugee habitation Velika Reka, at the tenth kilometer of the road Vucitrn-Pristina, there are no more Serbian refugees from the Republic Srpska Krajina and Republic Srpska, who were expelled by the Albanian extremists by the end of last month.
      In this refugee habitation were living about 150 refugees, there was a primary school who had 30 pupils. Now in this refugee habitation there are over 300 Albanians, mostly citizens of Albania.
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Pristina, July 16 (Tanjug) - Albanian extremists robbed and destroyed yesterday the ateliers of Serbian painters in Aktas, the suburbia of Pristina, near the building of the ancient Faculty of physical culture.
      The ateliers of Zorica and Zoran Furunovic, Zoran Jovanovic Dobrotin, Veselin Rajovic, Petar Djuza and Miomir Knezevic were robbed and destroyed, declared Darinka Jevric, poetess from Pristina, to the journalists.

 
UNHCR condemns attacks on Serbs and Gypsies
July 17, 1999

Geneva, July 16 - United Nations High Commissariat for Refugees condemned the expulsions of Serbs and Gypsies on Kosovo and Metohija that are signed by Albanians who execute, in that manner, the ethnic cleansing in this province.
      UNHCR spokesman Chris Janowski declared today that the protection of the Serbian people in the province is "the key question of the moment", report the agencies.
      This is the most serious condemnation of Albanian crimes of ethnic Albanians on Kosovo expressed by now by the Commissariat for Refugees.
      In the Commissariat for Refugees in Geneva were presented today few concrete examples that confirm murders, abduction, arson of houses and apartments and expulsion of Serbs and Gypsies.
      The spokesman presented the data about the arson of churches and monasteries and stressed that the actual unsatisfying development - as he evaluated - will make more difficult the national conciliation between the peoples in the province. He added that "it seems that a systematic campaign is lead against the Serbs".
      "With so much graves, the conciliation will be very difficult", declared the UN High commissariat representative.
      In UNHCR they claim that KFOR has done a lot to protect Serbs and Gypsies on Kosmet who found themselves in the line of attack of separatist KLA members.
      "The situation in Kosovo is not ideal, but it would be much worse without KFOR", declared Janowski.
      KLA members started the ethnic cleansing on Kosmet right after the withdrawal of Yugoslav security forces. Opposite to the opinion of the Security council and Group 8, Serbs, Montenegrins, Gypsies and Turks found themselves in the line of attack, and even the Albanians who decided themselves to cooperate with Serbian and Yugoslav authorities.

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church
PRAVOSLAVLJE PRESS

KOSOVO AND METOHIA CHRONICLE
Belgrade, July 18, 1999

Rt. Rev. Artemije, the Bishop of Raska and Prizren, has given welcome to Mr Bernard Kuchnaire, head of UN civil mission in Kosovo and Metohia, Mr Sergio Vieira de Mello and General Michael Jackson in Gracanica monastery today. The guests have stayed for lunch. Bishop Artemije has, once again, appealed for the guarantee concerning Serbian security. The conversation has passed in a friendly atmosphere. Mr Kuchnaire has afterwards visited Gracanica monastery.
     In two days six people were killed in Gnjilane. Their corpses could not be buried up to this day, since the grave-diggers were attacked: one was killed and the other wounded. Jankovic Zivorad and his son Zoran were also wounded in Gnjilane. They were transported into a Pristina hospital. Zoran Jankovic succumbed to his wounds, and his father is still in a critical state, since no one in the hospital takes care of him.
     The situation in Pristina is very difficult and dramatic. In the afternoon, the Albanians have barged into the Orthodox parish centre, where priests Radivoje Panic and Milorad Cvetkovic live. The parish centre has been plundered. KFOR soldiers, who escorted father Panic and nun Anastasija - Devic monastery Abbess, have stopped the plundering. The robbers have escaped having taken lots of things.
     An incident happened at the market in Pristina yesterday. The Albanians beat Petar Nikolic, Dobrivoje Mitic, and Stana Nikolic. There are many Serbs in the town who were expelled from their apartments, and a large number of those who were beaten, and also several Serbian houses have been set on fire today.
     Mirko and Javorka Talic were murdered in Stimlje on July 10.
     Petar Krstic (aged 38) who was killed eighteen days ago, was buried in his front yard. Only two women have stayed in this village, one is Petar Krstic's wife, the other's identity is unknown; their destiny has not been known still.
     Rt. Rev. Amfilohije, the Metropolitan of Crna Gora and Primorje, has served Holy Pontifical Liturgy in the Patriarchate of Pec monastery.

Rt. Rev. Bishop Atanasije Rakita
The Bishop of Hvosno

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church
PRAVOSLAVLJE PRESS

STATEMENT
Belgrade, July 17, 1999

Today, Rt. Rev. Artemije, the Bishop of Raska and Prizren, and Rt. Rev. Atanasije, the Bishop of Zahumlje and Herzegovina have been in Gracanica monastery.
     Rt. Rev. Amfilohije, the Metropolitan of Crna Gora and Primorje arrived yesterday into the monastery of the Patriarchate of Pec, where he will stay for a longer period of time.
     In Pristina, threats to the Serbian population continue to happen and several Serbian houses have been set on fire.

Rt. Rev. Bishop Atanasije Rakita
The Bishop of Hvosno

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church
PRAVOSLAVLJE PRESS

KOSOVO AND METOHIA CHRONICLE
Belgrade, July 16, 1999

Yesterday and today, the priests and monastics who are in the Patriarchate of Pec monastery, have visited the vicinity of Pec and Klina. They have reported on the following state of the Orthodox churches in these municipalities:
     In Klina, the church situated on the Serbian Orthodox graveyard was demolished. In Petric village, the church was blown up with a mine, and thus ruined completely, nothing left of it. Karic brothers erected this church 7-8 years ago. In Dolac village the church was burned to ashes. The church in Drsnik village was completely destroyed too. The church in Urekovac was demolished, the parish centre was partly burned and partly demolished. In Pecka Banja, the iconostasis in the church partly became charred and partly was demolished.
     Tonight, the Albanians have smashed the windows on Metropolis building in Pristina. This object is an ancient one, intended for the residing of bishops and gathering of the faithful.
     Yesterday, at 17:00, Bozidar Davcetovic, a Serb from Pristina, was shot by the Albanians, while being in the town due to some business. Bozidar’s corpse was buried today by the priest Milorad Cvetkovic. Only three persons attended the funeral.
     The Albanians have lighted a fire in the church in Samodreza village, eight kilometers away from Vucitrn, today. The church has been significantly damaged, especially its iconostasis and other valuables.
     The Albanians have violated Holy Trinity church, built 4 years ago, in the refugee settlement in Velika Reka, near Vucitrn.
     Yesterday, in Slovinje village, the Albanians blew up with a mine an Orthodox church dating from 16th century, located only 70 m in front of KFOR military base.
     Reliable sources have reported that the Orthodox church in Urosevac has also been set on fire, but it is necessary to go there and check the news.
     Yesterday, in Gornji Livac village, near Gnjilane, the Albanians wounded Zivorad Jankovic and his son Zoran, at the time when they went out to their farm to feed the cattle.
     The Albanians have tried today to enter the Serbian village Priluzje, near Vucitrn, but KFOR has prevented them from doing that. This village numbers about 700 Serbian families, and as some kind of Serbian enclave, it has been a target for the Albanians who want to force the Serbs to move out.
     In the conversation with the priests from Pristina we have been informed today that the Serbian houses in Pristina are continuously on fire, so, the scent of smoke could always be smelled.
     A new meeting between Kosovo and Metohia ethnic groups: the Albanians, Serbs, Turks, and inhabitants of Gora, has been held in Pristina today. Presided over by Bernard Kushner, this meeting has lasted from 10:30 till 13:00. Rt. Rev. Artemije, the Bishop of Raska and Prizren, and Momcilo Trajkovic have represented the Serbian side. The Serbs have taken this chance to start, once again, the issue of safety of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohia as the basic problem encountered in this area. They have also pointed out that a very large number of Orthodox churches has been destroyed in this province, and that numerous Serbs have been kidnapped or killed. That gives evidence that a huge disproportion exists between the promises of the Albanian leaders and the reality. Kushner has given, on his part, good promises that would be particularly useful for the Serbian side.
     Milovan Kojic, priest from Lipljan, and Ljubisa Crvenkovic, member of the Human Rights Protection Board, have given us additional information on the afflictions of the Serbs in Lipljan, on the Holy Day dedicated to Sts. Peter and Paul – July 12, of the current year. In the main streets of Lipljan, in which the Serbs form 95% of the population, a huge number of the Albanians, mainly from the other parts of the province, gathered and started their rampaging against the local Serbs: setting of the Serbian houses on fire, throwing Molotov cocktails and tossing hand grenades. About 11:00, Serbian houses in Aca Marovic Street were hurled stones at. Molotov cocktails were hurled at four Serbian houses and at Ljubinko Andjelkovic’s business premises. Three houses were mostly burned due to that, but the Serbs managed to extinguish the fire in the mentioned business premises. At 13:30, the Albanians tossed a grenade at Miladin Mladenovic’s house, and thereat Miladin’s son Zoran, aged 32, and Zoran’s friend Sorde Kosinac, aged 33, refugee from Stimlje, were wounded. KFOR drove both of them into the English military hospital located in the ex correctional institution in Lipljan, where they were detained for medical treatment. The Albanians tossed a grenade at Ognjen Todic’s house too, and thereat Milutin Kostic, aged 44, was heavily injured. KFOR took Milutin, too, to the mentioned military hospital in Lipljan, and afterwards transferred him by helicopter in Skoplje. A grenade was also tossed at Ljubomir Smiljic’s house, but, fortunately, it did not explode and KFOR disarmed it. The Albanians attacked Miladin Mladenovic, aged 53, from Lipljan, when he went to visit his wounded son and son’s friend.
     Miladin was seriously injured by knife in the neck and ear parts of the body. He, too, was brought into the military hospital in Lipljan.
     The Albanians also beat Novica Savic, aged 70, at the farm near his house in Novo Toplicane village, near Lipljan. Novica was seriously injured being stabbed below throat. He also took treatment in the military hospital. However, KFOR soldiers told Novica they should have arrested him, claiming that he had used firearms in self-defense, which he did not do.
     At 18:00 on the same day, to the great disappointment of the Serbs, KFOR gathered the Serbs from Lipljan in Novo Naselje and ordered them to hand over the weapons until 9:00 next day.
     This tragic event that happened to the Serbs, insufficient KFOR protection of the Serbs, as well as KFOR unwillingness to take into consideration the full burden of the Serbian population situation, have disturbed the Serbian population majority in Lipljan. All of that adds to their feeling of insecurity and induces moving out.
     We have also been informed that one Serb, while being under temporary arrest in correctional institution in Lipljan, heard from the imprisoned Albanians that Serb Zoran Stanic from Slovinje village, who had disappeared on June 22, was killed by the Albanians and buried so, that no one could find him.

Rt. Rev. Bishop Atanasije Rakita
The Bishop of Hvosno

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church
PRAVOSLAVLJE PRESS

KOSOVO AND METOHIA CHRONICLE
Belgrade, July 15, 1999

The killings and persecutions of the Serbs executed by the Albanians on Serbian Kosovo and Metohia continue to happen. The more extensive report on the latest events will follow during the day.

Rt. Rev. Bishop Atanasije Rakita
The Bishop of Hvosno

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