Pope meets with president of Kosovo

Published: 2008-02-04

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI met with the president of Kosovo, a U.N.-administered Serbian province expected to declare independence. The two met Feb. 2, the day before Serbia's presidential election in which both candidates opposed an independent Kosovo. The Vatican emphasized that the audience with Kosovar President Fatmir Sejdiu did "not represent any change in the position of the Holy See vis-a-vis the definitive juridical status of Kosovo." The Vatican said in a Feb. 2 written press release, "As for any possible declaration of independence by Kosovo, the Holy See will follow developments on the ground with particular attention and, in her appraisal thereof, will bear in mind the positions of the international community." The Serbian province has been under U.N. administration since 1999 after NATO drove out Serbian forces accused of ethnic cleansing. Kosovo has a locally elected multiethnic parliament, a prime minister and president.

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