DELEGATION OF RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH TO LEAVE FOR KOSOVO








MOSCOW, MARCH 6, 2001 /FROM RIA NOVOSTI CORRESPONDENT YEKATERINA ANTIPOVA/ -- On Tuesday a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church is leaving for Kosovo to prepare a conference devoted to the problem of the destruction of temples and monasteries in Yugoslavia. As bishop Savva said, the purpose of this forum is to draw the attention of the world public to the destruction of the Orthodox shrines in Kosovo.


	According to the bishop's information, to date 97 churches and monasteries, among them the ancient structures of the 13th-14th centuries, have been destroyed.


	He explained that these are the most ancient temples on the territory of Yugoslavia. According to the bishop, all Orthodox Christians deplore the destruction of the temples. He holds the view that it is necessary to specify why such values are destroyed. In the bishop's opinion, "this is done intentionally".


	The delegation will be received by Patriarch of Serbia Pavle, and then the delegates will meet with the Russian peace-keepers in Kosovo. As the bishop said, a meeting with the representatives of the international peace-keeping forces in Yugoslavia will also be held, and a representative of President of Yugoslavia Vojislav Kostunica will also be present at it.