Balkans

Minister Gashi told media on Sunday that a controversial Serbian Orthodox church, built in the capital, Pristina, was erected “illegally” and must go.

“It’s a sensitive issue but the legal basis has to be the same as for every building. This building had no planning permission and will therefore be treated like every other building with no permission,” he said.

BELGRADE - The Vatican does not intend to recognize the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo-Metohija (KiM), and there are no signals that the five EU member states will change their position concerning the non-recognition of Kosovo's independence either, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic has said.

Kosovo "could never be outside Serbia," says patriarch

BELGRADE -- Patriarch Irinej has voiced hope that Serbia and its government would never make any gesture that could lead to giving up on the southern province of Kosovo.

NOVI SAD - Serbia is opposing a reduction in the number of EULEX members and KFOR troops, Outgoing Minister without Portfolio in charge of Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) Aleksandar Vulin has said.

BELGRADE - The Serbs that have been displaced from Djakovica are not giving up on the plan to visit this town in south-western Kosovo-Metohija during the Easter holidays, so they will again request permission from EULEX and Kosovo institutions, said President of the Association of Djakovica Citizens Djokica Stanojevic.

"Court is insult to Kosovo, but vote to establish it"

PRIŠTINA -- Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has called on members of the Kosovo assembly to vote in favor of establishing a special court for war crimes.

The court would deal with crimes committed by ethnic Albanians against Serbs during the war in 1999.

Kosovo's small Catholic community in Kosovo is gearing up for services marking the Easter celebrations.

The main service will be held on Sunday evening in the Catholic Cathedral in the Kosovo capital, Pristina.

Serbs denied visit to Kosovo town on Good Friday

BELGRADE -- Serbs driven out of Đakovica in Kosovo sent a protest to the Priština authorities for not being allowed to visit their town and property on Good Friday.

BELGRADE- The Serbian government and the Kosovo-Metohija Serbs have met their obligations from the Brussels Agreement and expect a more active approach of the international community in its implementation and normalisation of life in Kosovo-Metohija, Serbia's Minister without portfolio for Kosovo-Metohija Aleksandar Vulin said on Thursday.

BELGRADE - Serbs who were driven out of the region of Djakovic, southwestern Kosovo, issued on Thursday a protest to the authorities in Pristina not being allowed to visit their town and properties on Good Friday.