Response to "Christians Under Siege in Kosovo"
By Letters To The Editor Gaz Gjoni (06/02/06)
Dear Sir or Madam,
On Jun 1, 2006 The American Daily printed and article from aim.org
"Christians Under Siege in Kosovo" written by Cliff Kincaid (US hating
Michael Moor or Noam Chomsky wannabe).
Article is full of inaccuracies about US allies and misleading statements
demonstrated in a direct letter to the author (see below).
In the letter it is also included the Kosovo's Bishop Mark Sopi's testimony
in front of the House of Foreign Relations Committee - directly refuting Mr.
Kincaid's claims.
Dear Mr. Kincaid,
I worked for Catholic Relief Services in Kosovo for years, and I can assure
you that Catholics are not endangered by Albanians (who themselves are more
than 15% Catholics).
Below are video links of Kosovo's Bishop Mark Sopi testimony in front of the
House of Foreign Relations Committee indicating that Catholics are not at
risk in Kosovo:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7336140813292442999&q=mark+sopi
(9 min 56 sec - Mar 5, 2006)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4476907940031818039&q=mark+sopi
(10 min 1 sec - Mar 5, 2006)
The Catholic and Orthodox churches Kosovo where preserved for centuries
exactly by Albanians. The revolt few years ago against Orthodox church was a
direct response of unfortunately Orthodox church involvement and indirect
blessing for the Balkan ethnic cleansing war against Catholics (Croats and
Albanians) and Muslims (Albanians and Bosnians). Kosovo Bishop Mark Sopi
mentioned this in the above testimony in front of the House.
As I mentioned above I worked for Catholic Relief Services and I know that
not even one Catholic Church was damaged.
The Serbian churches were not attacked on religious grounds; they were
attacked as representative of Serbian oppression.
As an American, I ask you: If we could locate the place where Bin Laden and
his followers "worship God" in their fanatical manner, without respect for
the innocent, would we bomb or otherwise destroy their place of worship?
(question posted by Serge Raymund Doucette,Jr.,Ph.D)
The second theme of the article suggests that our government - across both
party lines - had wrong policy for a long time. The reason why there is no
difference between Republican and Democrat policy on Kosovo is not by
chance, among others:
1. Serbs celebrated and danced on 9/11, Belgrade was filled with
graffiti praising Osama Bin Laden.
2. Serbian government had strong ties with Sadam's Iraq before and
during first gulf war.
3. Serbian government allied with Gadaffi's Libia and with explosives
from Serbia executed Lockerbie plane hijacking.
4. London 2005 terrorist attack was carried with Serbian explosives.
Because Serbian government is corrupt it has become the main supplier with
weapons and explosives for Al-Qaeda (there is an Israeli intelligence
report).
5. On April 5, 2006 in Serbian TV, Tomislav Nikolic, the leader of Serb
Radical Party (ultra-nationalists) declared that Serbia's goal and interest
is to unite with Arabs. Radical Party holds about 50% of the Serbian
parliamentary seats (strongest party in Serbia) clearly reflecting the
public sentiment about US.
6. Serbs still refuse to arrest war criminals Ratko Mladic and Radovan
Karadzic.
For somebody who works under motto "For Farness, Balance and Accuracy in
News Reporting" the most alarming statement is
"... the U.S. and the United Nations are helping allies of
Muslim terrorists come to power in Kosovo..." - this is simply a lie and
inflammatory statement put forward without any single evidence. It almost
sounds like US hating Michael Moor or Noam Chomsky wannabe.
I do support healthy skepticism for our government policies, but you have to
show at least same amount of skepticism for Serbian government financed
"Days Made Of Fear" too. Presenting it as reliable evidence is simply naïve.
Within a month this is your second article about the region that had
significant inaccuracies and ethical problems.
I sincerely hope that you will pull this article out of your website.
PS: I honestly hope that your organization is not tax exempt because that
would be a horrendous waist.
Regards,
Gaz Gjoni
(Printer friendly version) Email: Letters To The Editor
