KOSOVO: Dozens of Serbs from northern Mitrovica mark Orthodox Christmas at the Saint Sava church in the south of the city

Record ID: 790759

  • Title: KOSOVO: Dozens of Serbs from northern Mitrovica mark Orthodox Christmas at the Saint Sava church in the south of the city
  • Date: 10th January 2011
  • Summary: MITROVICA, KOSOVO (JANUARY 07, 2011) (REUTERS) SERBS GETTING OUT OF THE BUS WOMAN LAUGHING INSIDE THE BUS PEOPLE ENTERING THE CHURCH YARD PRIEST WALKING SAINT SAVA CHURCH / PEOPLE WALKING TOWARDS THE CHURCH PRIEST UNLOCKING THE CHURCH DOOR MAN WAITING / HOLDING OAK BRANCHES PEOPLE ENTERING THE CHURCH WOMAN KISSING CHURCH DOOR
  • Embargoed: 25th January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kosovo, Kosovo
  • Country: Kosovo
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA7DA89LCLC7U9XVSXZ3M2EV0I8
  • Story Text: Dozens of Serbs crossed the Ibar River dividing Albanians and Serbs to mark the Orthodox Christmas on Friday (January 7). The Saint Sava church, which was burned during the 2004 riots, was reconstructed recently.
    Every year Serbs from northern Kosovo are taken to mark religious dates at the church, which was abandoned when the city divided at the end of the war in 1999.
    In the past Serbs made this trip under a heavy NATO escort, but this Christmas the escort was done by Kosovo Police helped by EU policemen.
    The church security is also organised by Kosovo's Police.
    "I only know that the police station has developed a plan with 10-12 persons to help the procession so it could happen in good conditions and from my end for EULEX we only play a little part with our personnel who came here, because we know that KP (Kosovo Police) station is able to regulate all the problems alone," said European Union policeman Villarez Lament.
    Kosovo's north, including the Serb controlled part of Mitrovica, is frequently a hot spot for interethnic incidents.
    Standing outside the Mitrovica church damaged in riots in 2004, Janko Bisevac, a Serb from Mitrovica said:
    "It means a lot to us but unfortunately we have to come here under protection and we thank them for making this possible for us and I hope that in the future we can come here more freely."
    "This means a gradual return of trust in our neighbours, Albanians, so we can come here more freely than in the past so we can visit our temples, pray to god and celebrate the holiday together," said Dobrosav Dobric, an engineer from Mitrovica.
    Supported by the United States and most of the EU member countries, Kosovo declared independence in 2008.
    Many Serbs from the south took part in Kosovo's general elections in December, but none from the north.
    Kosovo and Serbia planed to start new negotiations on technical issues this year.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register