Catholic official welcomes Kosovo's declaration of independence

Published: 2008-02-20

OXFORD, England (CNS) -- A Catholic official in Kosovo welcomed its declaration of independence, adding that the rights of all people would be guaranteed in the new country. "We are fully behind independence -- it's a great joy that it has come so quickly," said Msgr. Shan Zefi, chancellor of Kosovo's Catholic apostolic administration in Prizren. "The Catholic faithful are celebrating throughout Kosovo. We are optimistic about the future, and we expect great things for the Catholic Church," he said Feb. 19, two days after Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. In a telephone interview with Catholic News Service, he said his church counted on the international community to "defend law and security" in the new state, adding that he had celebrated Mass in thanksgiving for the United States backing Kosovo's independence. However, Serbian Orthodox Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren urged Christians in the United States and Europe to oppose their countries' "unjustified, immoral and harmful policy" toward Kosovo and called on Serbia to prevent "attempts to complete the practice of violent ethnic cleansing and destruction of remaining monuments of our cultural legacy."

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