Posted on 02/22/2008 5:28:07 AM PST by markomalley
VATICAN CITY, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Serbia took its campaign against Kosovo's independence to the Vatican on Thursday when its ambassador told Pope Benedict that "moral principles" alone showed it was an injustice.
But the Pontiff, receiving Serbia's ambassador to the Holy See, steered clear of the dispute and renewed his call for all sides to show restraint.
"With regard to the current crisis in Kosovo, I call upon all interested parties to act with prudence and moderation, and to seek solutions that favour mutual respect and reconciliation," the Pontiff said.
Sunday's declaration of independence by Kosovo, which has a 90 percent ethnic Albanian majority, triggered small and at times violent protests in Serb cities and in neighbouring Bosnia's autonomous Serb half.
Serbia rallied its people on Thursday for a mass protest against the independence bid, with organisers expecting hundreds of thousands to attend.
"With your devotion to the highest moral principles, your Holiness knows better than anyone that injustice, which is called justice in only one unique case, always remains an injustice," said Serb ambassador Viadeta Jankovic, according to text of his comments released by the Vatican.
Embassies of countries that recognised Kosovo were attacked, especially those of the United States and current EU president Slovenia, and some foreign businesses were stoned or threatened.
Pope Benedict met with Kosovo's president earlier this month but the Holy See has not recognised Kosovo. The Pope told Jankovic on Thursday that he shared Serbia's desire for lasting peace.
Serbia and its ally Russia say Kosovo's declaration of independence violates a 1999 U.N. resolution and that recognising it will open a "Pandora's Box" of separatism.
Serbia's ambassador said he hoped to count on the support of the Holy See in its "aspirations to join the European integrations".
"All that Serbia expects from that process is to be granted the same treatment as that accorded to any other free, independent and democratic Christian country," Jankovic said.
"(This) means that its territorial integrity and sovereignty, including the southern province of Kosovo, must be respected."
In 1999 NATO intervened in Kosovo to stop mass killings of civilians by Serb forces in a two-year counter-insurgency war. The United Nations then took over the administration of Kosovo.
Exactly --
No I was suggesting the Serbs would burn down the Catholic churches because the Pope didn’t take their side. Sorry, I thought that is what you were talking about.
“You suggested that the Serbs are demanding the territory of the Byzantine Empire?
Yeah, back it up with something.”
That’s a fair request, txlurker. After all, your sentiments in favor of that man Bush have been made clear and most of us understand what an unspeakable liar Bush is when it comes to justifying his groveling support, financial, military and diplomatic, for jihadi terrorists. So, were you attempting to create the thoroughly false impression that Serbs wanted to restore their 14th century empire or not?
Calm down ok? I mistook his question. My point is the Serbs might burn down Catholic churches because the Pope wouldn't support their cause. If you would take time to read the previous posts, you would have seen that. As far as the President goes, yes I support him. As an American, I support America. As far as the Serbian cause goes, I think they need to quit acting like a bunch of 7th century idiots, rioting and burning to make a point. How is that these so called "jihadi" Kosovo folks have the world's support and not the Serbs?
That’s an issue that isn’t raised. Probably most in the West haven’t even thought about it.
One of my close friends is an immegrant from Serbia. His mother was visiting from Belgrade a several years ago and we had them over for a Christmas Eve party. My Father-in-Law, a good-hearted goof of a steel working union type guy asked her where Serbia was. I told him that it was where Clinton was bombing (at the time). He called me a liar.
Ah, that's called "bearing false witness" against the Serb Christians.
Uh...ok. Whatever. Those Serb Christians would never do a thing like that. They will just torch the embassies and such.
“They will just torch the embassies and such.”
That’s right. Sort of pales to insignificance in light of the foreign policy of that man Bush which has resulted in the destruction of Eastern Christian communities from the Adriatic to the Iran/Iraq border. George Bush’s legacy and the disgrace of this nation, is a string of smoking ruins of Christian churches and pay offs to Mohammedan terrorists at the behest of Bush’s Saudi bosses. Being an American, a truly loyal American, does not mean marching lock step behind a President who sells us and our Christian culture out to “The Religion of Peace”.
Thank God the day is near when George Bush will be gone from power and the KLA’s man in Washington, McCain will be thrown on the scrap heap of presidential wanna bees!
Your Jihadist buddies have already destroyed 200+ Christian Churches, but you don’t mind about those, I guess?
Not much of a drama queen are you? This nation is not a disgrace to any American except the likes of you. Your hatred and bitterness is symbolic of the Serbian problems now. Whether you like it or not, the Islamists exist. I don't want to live under Islamic rule anymore than you do. However, continuing ancient blood feuds with a 7th century mentality isn't going to help your Serbian cause. Whether it is Palestine or Serbia-Kosovo, diplomatic efforts are better than nothing. How is it the people of Kosovo have the support that your Serbian buddies can't seem to get?
They are not my Jihadist buddies. I don't care for muslims at all. What I do care about is any people being brutalized regardless of their religion. If these people coexisted in peace then leave them alone. You don't mind innocent people being slaughtered I guess as long as it is not your side.
“Whether you like it or not, the Islamists exist. I don’t want to live under Islamic rule anymore than you do.”
You think we don’t know about Islamists? Silly Amerikanaki! We’ve been dealing with those animals for 1300 years. You may not want to live under Islamist rule, but if the American government continues to be controlled by men like Bush, a servant of Wahabism or McCain, the paymaster of the KLA terrorists, that’s precisely what will happen and you’ll all think it is part of some clever plot to keep America safe because your leaders will tell you so.
“Whether it is Palestine or Serbia-Kosovo, diplomatic efforts are better than nothing.”
Do you hate the Jews too? Were you ever sooooooo proud when Bush took $500,000,000.00 of our dollars and turned them over to the terroist Fatah? Do you think turning Jerusalem over to the Mohammedans is a fine idea? Rice does. Shall we arm militant Wahabism with our latest military technology? Bush has ordered it.
“How is it the people of Kosovo have the support that your Serbian buddies can’t seem to get?”
Where did that idea come from? They don’t even have the support of the Arab League. What have they got? Sissified Western European countries, a resurgent Turkey and the lame duck wreck Bush. I’m impressed. /s
Unlike you, I don’t HATE anybody. Sounds like you are not even an American. Take your anger and burn an embassy ok...sounds like that is all you and your ilk are capable of doing. Certainly rational thought is beyond your ability.
If it wasn’t for the Serbs, operation Barbarossa (the invasion of The Soviet Union by the Nazis) would have succeeded and what remains of my relatives (Jewish) would have being gassed. The Serbs were the only ones to really oppose the Nazis and I guess the Germans are still pissed of about it. We always end up stabbing our friends in the back. Serbia was BORN in Kosovo in the early 1400s. The loss of Kosovo to a Serbian would be like us having Philadelphia or Boston taken away by the EU and given to our arch enemies. Will you be singing the same tune txlurker when a move is made to break off the american southwest? I didn’t think so.
look at the map....Your Idea of SERBIA is THIS?
Anyway SERBS were from somewhere in Northeastern Europe between PODOLIA and SILESIA THEY SETTLED ROMAN TERRITORY in WHICH CHRISTIANIZED AND ROMANIZED ILLYRIANS (Albanians) lived since FIFTH CENTURY B.C....
YOU ARE THE BARBARIANS....
NOT THE OTHERS....
Geez, have you been duped!
The Muslim illegal immigrants from Albania were not "coexisting in peace" but pursuing an active terror campaign, including murder and rape, against the Serb, Roma, and Jewish residents of Kosovo since the 1980's.
The Serbs started fighting back and the Muslims cried to the Saudis for help. The Saudis sent their lapdogs, that would be us in the United States, to win a place for their Jihadists.
ANYWAY YOU ARE THE BEST BUDDY OF HAMAS and HEZBOLLAH’S BEST FRIEND......
http://www.sana.org/eng/21/2008/02/14/160934.htm
Local News>> Serbian Ambassador in Damascus Describes Relations with Syria as Very Good
Serbian Ambassador in Damascus Describes Relations with Syria as Very Good
Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 12:40 PM
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- Serbian Ambassador in Damascus Gordana Ancici has described the Syrian -Serbian relations in all domains as very good and that the two countries are working for developing them, particularly in the economic and trade fields.
The Serbian Ambassador held yesterday evening a reception at Four Seasons Hotel on the occasion of her country’s National Day.
In a statement to SANA, Ancici praised the great development in Syria through the new legislations and laws which have helped in improving the investment atmosphere in the country.
Nawal / Idelbi
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Our idea of Serbia is the borders recognized by UN resolution 1244, which includes Kosovo.
So tell your Jihadist buddies they won’t be keeping it.
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