(17 Apr 2009)
Decani
1. Wide of Visoki Decani Monastery
2. Tracking shot of motorcade
3. Wide of helicopter arriving
4. Serbian President Boris Tadic arriving, greeted by monks
5. Various of Tadic walking to monastery and greeting monks
6. Italian peacekeepers and Carabinieri in front of church
7. Tadic inside church lighting candle
8. Media and monks in church
9. Mid shot of Tadic with monks
10. Wide of Tadic walking out of Church, standing in front of media
11. SOUNDBITE: (Serbian) Boris Tadic, Serbian President:
"Today is Good Friday and for all Christians it is a day of sadness but also hope in Christ's resurrection and hope for all people that are Christian. My message today in Visoki Decani here standing beside Archbishop Teodosije is the message of peace for Serbs, Albanians and all the people that live here in Kosovo, in our Serbia."
12. Wide of church tower
13. Wide of peacekeepers and monks
Pristina
13. Flags outside government building
14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Memli Krasniqi, Kosovo government spokesman:
"Considering the fact that the religious freedoms are guaranteed by every international convention of this nature and having in mind that this is a purely private visit for religious purposes the prime minister of Kosovo, in close consultations with the heads of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, has decided to allow entry into the territory of the Republic of Kosovo for Mr. Boris Tadic. We consider this as a private visit and no political statements will be allowed. If Mr. Tadic makes any political statements that are in violation with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo he will be denied entry in the future in Kosovo be it in private or official capacity."
15. Close-up of Kosovo flag
STORYLINE:
Serbia's president made a rare trip to Kosovo on Friday as the new leaders of the former Serb province lodged papers with the world's highest international court to defend their declaration of independence.
Boris Tadic was given special dispensation to travel to Kosovo to celebrate Serb Orthodox Easter in only his second visit to the area since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia last year (2008).
Many in Kosovo see the visit by Tadic as an attempt to undermine the fledgling nation and reassert Serbia's authority over the territory.
Tadic's visit was allowed by Kosovo's ethnic Albanian Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci on religious grounds, following an intervention by Kosovo's international representative Peter Feith.
Government spokesman, Memli Krasniqi, said that because it was a private visit for religious purposes the prime minister "decided to allow entry into the territory of the Republic of Kosovo for Mr. Boris Tadic.
"If Mr. Tadic makes any political statements that are in violation with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo he will be denied entry in the future in Kosovo be it in private or official capacity," added Krasniqi.
Tadic arrived by helicopter at the 14th century Serb Orthodox monastery of Visoki Decani, where he attended a religious ceremony and lit a candle.
He said he was in Kosovo with a message of peace.
"Peace for Serbs, Albanians, for all that live in Kosovo, in our Serbia," Tadic told reporters after the ceremony
Serbia condemned Kosovo's declaration of independence in February 2008 and has asked the International Court of Justice to rule that it was illegal.
Kosovo received strong backing from the United States and major European Union nations and 57 countries have so far recognised Kosovo as an independent country.
Serbs have set up parallel institutions to rival those run by ethnic Albanians.
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