Tadic sends message of peace to all citizens in Kosovo-Metohija

Tanjug
8/1/2012

“Serbs, Albanians and representatives of the international community alike, we need to understand what is our existence and what is our role, which is to understand each other, to support each other, to provide a safe life for the children who will come after us, regardless of faith, regardless of nationality,” Tadic said in a statement after the Christmas liturgy.

Serbian President Boris Tadic sent a message of peace to all citizens in Kosovo-Metohija in his speech delivered in the Visoki Decani Monastery late on Friday, ahead of the Christmas Day.

Tadic said that he wants to send a message of peace in his address to the people to mark the greatest holiday of peace, in the wish that all Serbs, wherever they might be in the world, may enjoy in peace. This is what we needed in previous times, and what we will need in the future most, for children who will bear our name in the time to come, he underscored.

We send a message of peace to everyone, not only to Serbs but to Albanians as well, to everyone living in Kosovo-Metohija, to people of other confessions, with a wish to connect everyone without renouncing our identity, values, our church, beliefs, but rather with strong faith in peace, the president underscored.

Tadic said that this is the key message which he wants to send from the splendid church ahead of Christmas, and pointed out that this monastery bears key importance for Serbs.

Bishop Teodosije of Raska and Prizren thanked the president for coming to spend the Christmas Eve and the most joyous of Christian holidays, the birth of Christ, together with the brethren and Orthodox believers in Kosovo.

Apart from numerous troubles, you came to the shrine that certainly has its own place in your heart, the bishop told Tadic. He also expressed gratitude to the president for everything that he is doing for the Serbian Orthodox Church and the people in Kosovo-Metohija.

We all need to be patient and persevere, and we also need to stay bravely on our path which is narrow and on which we need to bear our cross which is defined by our times, Bishop Teodosije said and added that this is Christ’s way, the only path that leads to salvation.

Serbian President Boris Tadic sent Saturday from the Visoki Decani monastery a message of peace to all residents of Kosovo and representatives of the international community.

All I want today is that all of us in Kosovo and in our common space under the European sky establish peace and understanding, Tadic said.

“Serbs, Albanians and representatives of the international community alike, we need to understand what is our existence and what is our role, which is to understand each other, to support each other, to provide a safe life for the children who will come after us, regardless of faith, regardless of nationality,” Tadic said in a statement after the Christmas liturgy.

He stressed this is “our role, our obligation and the reason of our existence.”

“I think nothing else can be said here in Visoki Decani and that is why this monastery is a holy place not only for our people, but for everyone who visits Kosovo and our country. This is our common European space,” Tadic added.

The Serbian president underlined that the only statement that makes sense on Christmas is a message of peace, and that today he is sending this message to everyone in Kosovo – Serbs, Albanians and representatives of the international community.

Asked about Friday’s attacks on his convoy as he was arriving in Kosovo, Tadic said his message is short and clear, that he does not react to aggressive behavior and that his message to everyone is a message of peace.

“Today is Christmas, and the only message that can be sent is peace and a peaceful message to all, even those who were very aggressive last night,” he said.

This morning the president attended the Christmas liturgy at Visoki Decani, where he also spent Christmas Eve.

The liturgy was also attended by KFOR Commander Erhard Drews, EULEX Head Xavier Bout de Marnhac, EU representative in Kosovo Fernando Gentilini, and members of the diplomatic corps, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Dell.

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