FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact person: Fr. Sava (Janjic)

Information Service of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren
Kosovo and Metohija


http://www.decani.yunet.com

AFTER HOLY LITURGY ALBANIANS SET SERB MONASTERY
IN ZOCISTE ON FIRE

Velika Hoca, 21:50 July 14, 2002.

According to the latest information sent by Fr. Peter Ulemek from
Orahovac, immediately after the holy liturgy and leaving of the Bishop
with the congregation, local Albanians from Zociste village set the
fire in the monastery of SS Cosma and Damian. The fire has made
additional damage to this already desecrated holy shrine. Fr. Peter
was in the last group of Sebs who left the monastery under the KFOR
escort. While they were getting ready to leave a group of Albanians
began throwing stones at Serbs. Soon afterwards the local Serb priest
Fr. Srdjan Milenkovic received infomation that the monastery is
burning. Serbs in Velika Hoca immediately organized a fire brigade and
rushed with UNMIK police to Zociste to localize the fire.

After today's offensive and vulgar behavior of the Albanian mob in
presence of the Bishop, during the Holy Service, this last attack on
Zociste Monastery confirmed once again a clear intention of Albanin
extremists to eradicate the last Serb monuments in this region.
Today's behavior has proved that Prime Minister Rexhepi and Mr. Thaci
intentionally deceived Bishop Artemije last month when they promised
in front of US and German diplomats that they would create conditions
for the reconstruction of the monstery and the return of the expelled
Serb population to Zociste. In fact there are many indications which
prove that the PDK (so called Democratic Party of Kosovo, led by Mr.
Thaci and Rexhepi) was directly involved in the destruction of the
monastery as well as this last incident.

(We are enclosing one of the latest photos from the burned monastery
with a graffito of PDK and Thaci).

Information Service of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren
Kosovo and Metohija


Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska and Prizren

http://www.decani.yunet.com