[ALBSA-Info] News:Catholics Targeted

[KreshnikBejko]

[18] CONTINUED THREATS TO ROMAN CATHOLICS IN KOSOVA

A Jesuit spokesman said in Belgrade on 23 January that Roman Catholic 

buildings and individuals are coming under increasing threat 

in Kosova, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. He did not 

elaborate, but said that the unnamed attackers appear to have 

singled out clergy and their families as particular targets 

of violence. Vatican Radio recently blamed "Muslim 

extremists" for the violence (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 

January 2000). Some 70,000 Kosovar Albanians are Roman 

Catholic. On the average, they tend to be better educated, 

wealthier, and better connected abroad than many of their 

Muslim neighbors. Many have worked and lived in Croatia and 

also hold Croatian passports. PM