PART OF ROOF STOLEN FROM SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN KOSOVO TOWN OF PRIZREN
BBC Monitoring International Reports - November 14, 2005

Text of report in English by Belgrade-based Radio B92 text website on 14 November

Prizren, 14 November: A large part of the lead covering of the Bogorodica Ljeviska church roof has been stolen. The church, located in the centre of Prizren, was damaged in last year's March riots and a restoration plan is in the works. However, more than 100 square metres of lead roof coverings was taken from the northern and southern ends of the church roof.

"This is an unbelievable robbery," said Bishop Teodosije, adding that "it is practically unbelievable that vandals could, without any problem, take away a part of the lead roof of a medieval church which will be voted an international cultural site by UNESCO next year, and that none of the responsible officials or security personnel did not even notice this, much less did anything about it."

Bishop Teodosije, as a representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the restoration process of churches in Kosovo, has sent an urgent letter to Kosovo Governor Soeren Jessen Petersen and to Kfor [Kosovo Force], demanding that the perpetrators of this crime not only be found by the end of this week, but that the church be put under constant protection by Kfor and the Kosovo Police Service [KPS].

"Had this church remained under the protection of Kfor, as it was asked for many times by the Serbian Orthodox Church, and had the KPS done its job, this would have never happened. I have addressed an open question to the international community and officials about how much we have actually progressed in the process of restoring churches in Kosovo, when there are continually being damaged and vandalized," Bishop Teodosije said.

Source: Radio B92 text website, Belgrade, in English 1641 gmt 14 Nov 05

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