Thaci Visit Angers Serbs in Montenegro

Kosovo's Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, is due to visit Podgorica for a two-day visit on Thursday when he will meet the country's top officials.

However, the visit of the former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army remains controversial among Montenegrins who cherish ties to Serbia.

The leading Serbian cleric in the country, Orthodox Bishop Amfilohije, slated the visit, calling it an insult to Kosovo Serbian refugees from the Kosovo war of independence.

"I hope we will come to return the keys of houses for 30,000 displaced persons from Kosovo who live like beggars," the Montenegrin media quoted Amfilohije as saying.

By recognizing Kosovo's independence from Serbia, the government had renounced Montenegro's own history and tradition, the bishop added.

Speaking for the opposition Socialist People's Party, Aleksandar Damjanovic complained that Podgorica was giving an alibi to a man "conected with the most serious war crimes."

He claimed that Thaci's visit would not be welcomed by the majority of Montenegrin citizens.

Several non-governmental organizations and the association have also criticized the decision to invite Thaci to Montenegro.

The Forum for Democracy, a local watchdog that advocates human rights, said offering hospitality to Thaci compromised the government, taking into account his "dark biography.

"As such, he should not deserve the honour and privileges of an official visit," the organization said on Monday.

Several associations represengint refugees from Kosovo have called for protests.

The Association of Kosovo Montenegrins and representatives of ethnic Albanians parties meanwhile backed Thaci's visit.

The Association of Kosovo Montenegrins said...

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