Serbian President Boris Tadic, who celebrated Orthodox Christmas in Kosovo despite protests from majority ethnic Albanians who objected to his visit, on Thursday called for peace and reconciliation and at the same time underlined the need to preserve the identity of Kosovo Serbs.
"Today is a holiday of peace which is always an opportunity to send outa message of reconciliation," said Tadic who attended a ceremony held inthe Visoki Decani Orthodox monastery in western Kosovo.
He told Kosovo Serbs to preserve their identity and to unite it with theidentity of other European peoples.
"Serbia is looking for its niche in Europe, it is demanding that itsmerits and rights be recognised. Our people is asking that right in Kosovo andwherever Serbian people exists, in our Serbia, in the Balkans, in theworld," Tadic said.
"On this day, I would like to send out a message of peace, not only tomy fellow countrymen, but also to Albanians and all other peoples living in theBalkans that had been cut in little pieces by wars and divisions of thepast," Tadic said.
Kosovo Opposition parties have criticised the government for allowingTadic's visit to Kosovo.
Several hundred Albanians protesters yesterday blocked the road for twohours en route to the Visoki Decani monastery, where Tadic was to spend thenight.
Tadic arrived in Decani to attend a Christmas Eve service which the SerbOrthodox faithful celebrate according to the Julian calendar on January 7.
The Kosovo government said earlier this week it allowed the visit but askedthe Serbian President to refrain from making political speeches or it would banany future visit.
Tadic returned to Belgrade on Thursday afternoon.
