http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/07/AR2008020703594.html?referrer=emailarticle The Washington Post
A Warning on Kosovo Friday, February 8, 2008; Page A18 I must dispel any false impressions left by the Feb. 5 editorial "Serbia <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Serbia?tid=informline>'s Step Forward," particularly that the presidential election between Boris Tadic <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Boris+Tadic?tid=informline> and Tomislav Nikolic <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Tomislav+Nikolic?tid=informline> was a choice between Europe <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Europe?tid=informline> and Russia <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Russia?tid=informline> or a referendum on a separation by Kosovo <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Kosovo?tid=informline>. Mr. Nikolic made a point of keeping open Serbia's eventual orientation toward the European Union <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/European+Union?tid=informline>, though any E.U. countries' recognition of Kosovo would harm our relationship. Likewise, Mr. Tadic recently signed a major Serbian-Russian energy pact. Both maintained that Kosovo will remain part of Serbia. Serbs may disagree on the exact response should America recognize an illegal declaration of independence , but there is no doubt that we will defend our people and our national territory. If Albanian separatists try to impose their illegitimate authority on my flock and use force against Serbian government institutions in Kosovo, stepped-up violence, not of our choosing, would result. We hope prudence will suggest that continued dialogue is the better path to reconciliation. ARTEMIJE Bishop of Ras and Prizren Kosovo and Metohija Serbia
