Serbian academy to hold "patriotic" meeting on Kosovo Serbs in Mitrovica

BBCM, May 26, 2005 12:14 AM

Text of report by Serbian news agency Beta

Kosovska Mitrovica, 25 May: A scientific gathering about "Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija", to be attended by over 60 experts, will be held between 27-29 May in Kosovska Mitrovica in the organization of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and the Pristina University.

The representatives of the Pristina University, whose seat is temporarily in Kosovska Mitrovica, have told a news conference that five experts from Russia will be among the participants.

Pristina University Dean Radivoje Papovic said that the Serb population in Kosovo "is of lasting concern for every decent Serb".

Papovic said that the gathering would show that "the Pristina University's mission is primarily a scientific and patriotic one, with a marked national prefix".

"This gathering intends to demonstrate what we are and what we do not accept to become," Papovic said.

He said that the gathering would be attended by Serbian Patriarch Pavle and the bishops.

Source: Beta news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1321 gmt 25 May 05

BBC Monitoring