Bosnia disintegration would be catastrophic

Source: Beta, Financial Times

LONDON -- British Shadow Foreign Minister William Hague and former High Representative in Bosnia Paddy Ashdown say the break-up of Bosnia would cause a "disaster".

In an article the pair published in the Financial Times, dubbed, “Broken Bosnia needs western attention”, Hague and Ashdown described tensions between Sarajevo and Banja Luka and made an observation that the danger of Bosnia breaking up was "realistic".

“We must impress on Bosnia’s leaders that the sovereignty of the country is unquestionable and its break-up unthinkable,” they write.

“But we must also say to European candidate countries Serbia and Montenegro that they are expected to uphold EU policy towards Bosnia.”

Even the Bosnian Croats increasingly talk of their own entity and a break with their federation with the Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims), Hague and Ashdown noted.

The post-Dayton Bosnian-Herzegovina is made up of the Serb entity, RS, and the Musli-Croat Bosnian Federation.

"Bosnia may seem less significant than it used to be to the U.S. and her allies. Pressing challenges in Afghanistan and beyond need great attention. The breakdown of the country into independent ethnic statelets would be catastrophic," Hague and Ashdown wrote.

“It would not only reward ethnic cleansing – surely a moral anathema – but would also risk the creation of a failed state in the heart of Europe; a fertile breeding ground for terrorism and crime, and a monstrous betrayal of all those who survived the concentration camps, mass graves and displacement of the 1990s."

“Bosnia will not solve itself, nor will the prospect of EU integration be enough to pull the country back from the brink. We urge the US and EU to each appoint a special envoy to the region, who would work in lockstep to deliver a united message and drive forward progress,” the two British politicians wrote.

"A robust international approach should focus on a single goal: a central government in Bosnia effective enough to meet the responsibilities of EU and NATO membership. Each Bosnian leader should have to stand for, or against, that simple idea – and face consequences for his or her answer."

Hague and Ashdown think that the Office of the High Representative (OHR) should only be closed once constitutional reform has been achieved. Also, in their opinion, the EU peacekeeping mission in Bosnia must be retained, and reinforced if necessary – "to send a strong signal that neither secession nor violence will be tolerated".

K. Albanian kills five, self in Finland shooting

31 December 2009 | 12:14 -> 14:27 | Source: DPA, Deutsche Welle

ESPOO -- Four people have been shot dead at a shopping mall in the Finnish city of Espoo on Thursday. Finnish police at the scene (Beta/AP) It's not clear how may others may have been injured in the shooting, while the fifth victim is the killer's ex-girlfriend, whose body was found in an apartment, reports say. DPA says that Finnish police identified the suspect as being a 43-year-old "Kosovo native" with a criminal record, and named him as Ibrahim Shukpoli. News agencies say that police believe to they found the body of the shooter, who appears to have killed himself. Media reports said earlier that a lone gunman dressed in black opened fire at the shopping centre in Finland's second largest city. An eyewitness was quoted as saying one or more people had been shot at a grocery store in the mall, and that one employee was seen lying on the floor in the shop. Security services have cordoned off the shopping centre and public transport services have been rerouted

Government decides to sue Croatia for genocide

The Serbian government has decided to sue Croatia for genocide before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

The lawsuit will be filed for the crimes committed against Croatia's ethnic Serb population between 1991 and 1995.

The government's media office announced today in Belgrade that the decision was made after consultations held by President Boris Tadić and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković.

Serbia's case will be a countersuit, considering that Croatia also sued Serbia for genocide before the same court in 1999.

Zagreb alleges that the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SRJ) was guilty of violating the Convention of Prevention and Punishment of Genocide during the 1991-1995 armed conflict in Croatia.

BOLLANOS MATTER TO GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY

Question of Parliamentarian Members of LAOS, about Bolanos matter

Press Conference"
LA.OS

To the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs
Subject: The Albanian state against Mayor of Himara

The issue of the Albanian Prosecutor of Vlora, for the political prosecution in fals "abuse of power" to the Greek mayor of Himara Vasilios Bolanos, the penalties under Albanian law provide long imprisonment of the Mayor of Himara, resistance with all his might to protect land and property of the Greeks of Northern Epirus, but also for the general ethnic, religious and cultural protection of northern epiriotes, all those LAOS asks the Greek foreign ministry.

Clearly this is a clear political persecution with manufactured categories, which adds to other similar proceedings against the Greeks in Northern Epirus both the Albanian state and from Albanian para-mechanisms together, terrorizing the ethnic Greek minority in Northern Epirus.

Asked the competent Minister,

A) How do you intend to support the Mayor Himara, and to protect him from persecution and terrorism received from the Albanians?

B) to pressure the Albanian government for the area where resides the Greek ethnic minority in Northern Epirus to have a significant institutional authority to protect itself against the Albanian fashist metodes?

Athanasios Plevris, MP A Athens
Spiridon-Adonis Georgiadis, MP B Athens
LAOS

Albania's opposition to launch protests after New Year's holidays

Thursday, 31 December 2009

Albania's opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama said on Tuesday the party will stage massive protest rallies after New Year's holidays, demanding snap polls. Rama said the Prime Minister Sali Berisha's government will face massive protests, adding that a large number of citizens will join the protest. Rama reiterated that opposition Socialists demand the government either recount vote in a controversial June parliamentary elections or hold another. The Socialists lost to Berisha in tight race but have not accepted the result and refuse to enter parliament unless a number of ballot boxes, ruled irregular by election authorities, are opened. Rama blamed PM Berisha of doing nothing to stern corruption. He also said 2010 will be a tough year for Albania's economy, noting that the government withholds the negative economic outlook. The statement came just one day after Berisha claimed that the government has made a significant progress within the first 100 days.

THE ALBANIAN NATION IN EUROPE

One was the nation, a language was, Albanian Tosk and Gheg, are a nation, and can not be separated - all together, Çamëria and Kosovo, have decided to fight for this nation. So Albanianism, Albanians made more unique nation in Europe'

An article published at the end of the year by "Gazeta Shqiptare" the author of Kosovo Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi (Former Political spokesman of the KLA) presents the appearance of a Greater Albania and united historically, since the time of the Ottoman Empire and to current days.

The author writes for a Greater Albania not only inherited but also with the strong current in Europe today, and by propagating the Albanian Ottoman classical philosophers, who were the creators of modern philosophy that the Albanian nation.

Among other things, the author writes for the effects of assimilation of the Albanians in Greece.Krasniqi writes, "began interest in translating religious books including the Bible in the Albanian language, which will work later completed Constantine Kristoforidhi .

This cycle will by Fan Noli concludes with the establishment of the Albanian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Boston U.S. These actions are major efforts made chauvinistic Greek Orthodox Church for the assimilation of the Albanian Orthodox rite. This effort has not ceased even nowadays. Many Arvanites (Albanian in Greece) in their families continue to speak the mother tongue - Arvanite language, but not outside the family.

Current century, we should not allow the elimination of Arvanite language (Albanian) in a European country, because European values do not allow discrimination with disappearance of assimilation", stresses Jakup Kransiki, among others in his opinion for Greater Albania in "Gazeta Shqiptare".

http://bw.balkanweb.com/analiza/kombi-shqiptar-ne-evrope-4265.html

Note: The Article of the President of the Kosovo Parliament, published at a time when Athens has not recognized Kosovo's independence, but simultaneously the Greek peacekeeping troops, belong to the KFOR operation in Kosovo since 1999.

In fact, Kosovo's internal politics, has experienced a separation visible, as the Party of former President Ibrahim Rugova's LDK, in its philosophy Configures the modern Albanian state with the name "Dardania", considers the South of Albania, as territorially inhabited by the Greek majority.

Unlike the LDK, PDK nationalist policies of Prime Minister Hashim Thaci (a former KLA leader) has the philosophy itself, the creation of "Greater Albania", both in territories including Greece.

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, proposed by the Cham community in Vlora, is honored with the medal of "Honorary Citizen of Vlora"

President plans trip to Kosovo

BELGRADE. President Boris Tadić says he will be visiting Kosovo soon in order to show that Serbia is not giving up on the fight for the province and its citizens there.

Tadić took part in a Q&A session broadcast on RTS TV last night, to say that the government will insist that its citizens in Kosovo prosper economically and have all the rights given to citizens in the rest of the country.

He said that this year, the government achieved a significant diplomatic victory as it received guarantees that its EU integration will not be conditioned with position towards Kosovo.

The president said that "it is clear that even those European countries to not intend to withdraw their recognition of Kosovo will not blackmail Serbia into recognizing Kosovo or joining NATO".

“We received clear guarantees from all EU officials that no one will condition Serbia to recognize Kosovo in order to enter the EU,” Tadić repeated.

Dnevnik: Albanian Macedonia book presented in Tetovo

Skopje. “Many events and persons of the Albanian history have been stolen by Macedonia and this should be corrected” – this was said during the presentation of a book called ‘Albanian Macedonia’ in the town of Tetovo, Macedonian "Dnevnik" newspaper writes.

According to the author – Nijazi Muhamedi, the book is an announcement for an encyclopedia, which should be presented next year.According to the book, Alexander the Great was an Albanian, as well as the St. Jovan Bigorski monastery.

There is proof that many historical persons were Albanians. They were forcibly turned into Macedonians, while during the communism these people were obliged to study Macedonian.

As a result of this, 100,000 Albanians have lost their identity, including four academicians with the Macedonian Academy of Science and Art (MASA), who declare themselves Macedonians.

Writer Matea Matevski and composer Todor Skalovski are also Albanians, says Muhamedi.
Dnevnik comments that Muhamedi is adviser of Menduh Thaci, leader of the Democratic Party of Albanians.

Albania continues to be the main source of drugs to Greece, according to a report

Athens. Albania continues to be the main source of drugs to Greece, and Turkey is the country from which imported significant quantities of heroin, Greek newspaper "Vima'' announced.

This is stated in the annual report of the coordinating body to combat drugs in 2008. In particular, 10.22% of the total quantity of heroin seized in Greece, 8.7% of cocaine and 69.32% of crude cannabis were originated from Albania. 41.51% of seized heroin was by Turkey.

The report says heroin is imported directly from Turkey, or first pass through Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania to go back to Greece.

Greek criminal organizations work closely with suppliers in Turkey, Albania and Bulgaria, the report notes further.

Beglitis visits Greek KFOR troops in Kosovo

Alternate Defence Minister Panos Beglitis on Tuesday visited the Greek force stationed in Kosovo, accompanied by Hellenic Army General Staff chief Lieutenant General Fragkoulis Fragkos, in order to convey the government's best wishes for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Beglitis first visited the headquarters of the KFOR multinational force, where he was briefed on its activities and developments in the region.

His next stop was the "Megas Alexandros" army base in Mitrovica, where the 646 Mechanised infantry battalion is stationed, and then the army base "Rigas Ferraios" in Urosevac, to visit the 501 Mechanised Infantry Battalion.

In statements during the visits, Beglitis praised the contribution made by the Greek battalions in the international peacekeeping force in efforts to consolidate peace, security and stability in Kosovo and the western Balkans as a whole.

"Greece has a dynamic presence in international peacekeeping operations, respecting both its international and allied obligations but, above all, with an interest in defending its national interests in a region that has suffered grievously in the recent past," he stressed.

Beglitis went on to say that Greece intended to continue participating in the peacekeeping force in Kosovo, in the framework of the UN mandate, in support of the fundamental religious and political rights of all the communities that made up Kosovo. He stressed that Greece's aim was to continue to be involved in peacekeeping missions where these were needed around the world because the government believed that the country protected its own interests best when it help ensure peace, security and stability, especially in geostrategically sensitive regions like the western Balkans.

"In the framework of strengthening Greece's role in the Balkans, we do not rule out the possibility of boosting our presence in the region," he added, noting that keeping to the schedule for the gradual reduction of KFOR would depend on assessments of whether the situation in the region was normalising.

The Greek delegation was unable to fit in a planned visit to a local monastery in order to meet Kosovo's bishop Artemios, due to lack of time before its return flight to Athens.

Albanian Justice, "test" for the existence of the state

Protection from Greek State, required by the Greeks in Albania

The efforts of the Greek minority to deliberate arbitrariness of the Albanian state, seeking Greek minority organizations in Albania, on the occasion of the absurd persecution of the mayor Vasilis Bolanos Himara by the Albanian State for alleged abuse of power.

In particular the prosecution of Vlore in December brought charges against the mayor of Himara and chairman of the Democratic Union of the Greek minority "Omonia" Vassilios Bolanos of his decision to grant planning permission to Greek natives residents to build a privately owned.

According to the carefully planned by the Albanian authorities in case the Justice of the country has ratified a decision at first instance, whereby large areas in the region of Himara, owned by Greek expatriates, obtained by Albanian citizens, who succeeded before the Albanian courts to convince the judges (!) that these areas belong.

According to announcements related from the Greek organizations in Northern Epirus, this case is a political prosecution which consists as a continuation and other similar approaches, to the reduction of Greek ethnic minority in Himara region.

The homogenous groups seeking the support of the Greek state in order to avoid unpleasant developments for the near homogeneity of Himara.

Tow year ago, the Himara Community in Albania, sent a critic report to the Socialist European Parlamentarian Group, for persecutation by albanian state of the mayor of Himara Vassilios Bollanos and the Greek community of the region.

Tirana, dozens of civil and criminal charges against PM Berisha

The Powerful man in Albania, has always defies justice. Only from family opposition leader, Edi Rama, are 13 criminal charges against Berisha

Dozen civil and criminal charges from opposition leader Edi Rama, as well as many VIP businessman, who are "accused by premier Berisha, as the most dangerous mafia of the country", have deposited in the courts of Albania, charges against prime minister.

The charges are the most different to Berisha, but local analysts said that the charismatic leader of the Democratic Party and currently the country's prime minister Sali Berisha, historically, never has been presented to be face prosecution charges.

Albanian courts and prosecutors fear, could not open the criminal process against Berisha also for 1997 and for "Coup d`Etat" in 1998.

If the courts will not act in time and the Prosecution will not to take the first step that Berisha stopped, then finally, justice in Albania, has failed together with the democratic system in Albania, foreign analysts said, for Albanian political crisis.

"Prime Minister Sali Berisha, among others must bring proofs" why he calls the country's opposition as the mostly sophisticated mafia in Europe, said opposition leader Edi Rama, while adding that" Berisha is the first to be charged for using the State by his family, for robbery and property laws in favor of changes to his political clan.

Meanwhile, Albanian politician with influence in the Balkans, Arber Xhaferri, has declared that the political crisis in Albania, can be placed in question the future of the country. "Albania, he says, can currently be classified as a country with democracy failed, which is endangering the sovereignty.

Albanian government moves closer to arresting Berisha

Former president accused of fomenting recent riots

September 17, 1998
Web posted at: 11:39 p.m. EDT (0339 GMT)

TIRANA, Albania (CNN) -- Albania's internal strife intensified Thursday as the government moved closer to arresting former President Sali Berisha on charges of fomenting anti-government riots that have killed seven people and injured more than 70.

A parliamentary commission recommended that Berisha, a member of Parliament, be stripped of his immunity against arrest. The full Parliament is expected to take up the matter Friday.

A defiant Berisha said he welcomed the recommendation.

"Twice I have felt proud of myself -- in 1991 when I saw with my eyes how my people stood up (to communism) and now," said the former president, who called on his supporters to turn out in force Friday for a protest rally that some observers fear could trigger more violence.

Earlier Thursday, Berisha led 3,000 supporters of his Democratic Party through the streets of Tirana in a peaceful march. He and his party have denounced the government of Socialist Prime Minister Fatos Nano as a communist-style dictatorship.

Nano took over as head of a five-party coalition after voters ousted Berisha in June 1997.

The current crisis was triggered Saturday when Azem Hajdari, a popular Democratic Party politician and close ally of Berisha, was killed.

Berisha blamed Nano's government for the slaying, and on Sunday and Monday, anti-government rioters damaged government offices and briefly took over state television. Government officials accused Berisha of trying to overthrow the government with what amounted to a coup.

While Tirana was calm Thursday, there were reports of violence in the northern town of Lezhe, where about 80 demonstrators attacked a police station late Wednesday night. Three people were reportedly killed.

Europeans appeal for calm

Daan Everts, an official with the Albanian field office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, made an appeal for Albanians to remain calm and urged both Democrats and Socialists to eschew violence.

"What should be done now is, first of all, to keep the heads cool," he said.

Everts said he thought it was unlikely that Nano would give in to calls by Berisha that his government resign. He said that would only create more chaos.

"People want to be able to walk in the streets, obviously, and institutions should be protected and preserved," he said. "So resignation now would be rather adding to the chaos than resolving it. I think it is very unlikely at this moment."

European countries concerned about the deepening unrest are considering sending a high-level ministerial delegation to Albania to defuse the situation, perhaps as early as this weekend. Ministers from Austria, Greece, Poland and Italy could take part.

Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou said the delegation would try to meet with both Nano and Berisha.

Dnevnik: Menduh Taci prognosticates destabilization in 2010

Skopje. The next year will be very hard and may be there will be no WWIII but surely the government of Nikola Gruevski and Ali Ahmeti will fall, said leader of the oppositional Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) Menduh Taci, Macedonian Dnevnik newspaper writes. In his words Macedonia will be destabilized politically and economically.

“The two heads of the government are raving. Ahmeti says there will be no WWIII if the name dispute is not resolved and Gruevski lies Macedonians it has not been negotiated about the identity and the language in the name issue. Gruevski and the opposition of Macedonian bloc are not telling Macedonians the truth the name, identity, constitution and the language will be changed.

Due to personal party interests no one wants to prepare Macedonians for this. The thing the government does not or do not want to understand is that Macedonia has problems not only with Greece, but with Bulgaria, NATO and the European Union,” Taci said.

Another Albanian paradox!

Vreme: Alexander the Great was Albanian, intellectuals say

Skopje. Alexander the Great was neither Macedonian nor Greek but Albanian. This is what Albanian intellectuals noted in the new Albanian encyclopedia, which will be presented Tuesday in Macedonian town of Tetovo, Macedonian Vreme newspaper writes.

The editor in chief of the encyclopedia is the journalist Nijazi Muhamedi, who has taken part of the working out of the contract ,proposed by Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) in exchange for the Ohrid Framework Agreement.

However, according to Muhamedi and the DPA the encyclopedia has nothing to do with the party but is a product of a group of intellectuals.

“The first two volumes are a reply to the disputable editions of the Macedonian encyclopedia. The arguments, we hold out are from historically checked up resources,” Muhamedi said.

The Spy Trial

A FORMER East European spy master living secretly in Britain and claiming thousands in benefits has won his appeal against extradition, The Sun can reveal.

Secret service boss Ilir Kumbaro, 56, is one of Eastern Europe's most wanted men - said to have kidnapped and tortured three men in his Albanian homeland.

He fled to Britain in 1996 after falling out with officials there.

He used the alias Shaqa Shatri to claim asylum, convincing immigration officials he was a Kosovan fleeing Serb persecution.

The real Shaqa Shatri had his ID documents stolen in the former Communist nation's capital Tirana in 1993. Kumbaro was granted indefinite leave to remain and was issued with a British passport.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2786802/Torturer-kidnapper-bogus-refugee-and-dole-scrounger-to-stay-in-Britain.html

Serbia finds Kosovo organ trafficking ‘witnesses’: report

AFP December 28, 2009 – 8:30 am

(BELGRADE) – Serbia has tracked down people who claim to have witnessed the removal of organs from prisoners captured in Kosovo which were then allegedly trafficked abroad, a newspaper reported Sunday. Investigators are probing claims organs were removed from hundreds of prisons — mainly Kosovo Serbs — who were kidnapped in Kosovo and taken to Albania in the summer of 1999, just after the end of the conflict in the territory.

Serbian war crimes prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic told the newspaper Blic on Sunday about the latest development and hailed it an advance in the investigation. “We have made big progress…. We have discovered the names of people who were present while operations were carried out on the people who had been kidnapped,” he said. “We have already interviewed some of these people but we have also noticed some of these potential witnesses harbour a great fear,” he said. Investigators had managed to make contact with “credible” people willing to help them, Vukcevic added.

The prosecutor said he had passed details about the discovery to the Council of Europe’s envoy, Dick Marty, who is investigating the allegations. The claims first arose in the memoirs published last year of former UN chief war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte, which prompted the Council of Europe to reopen the case briefly investigated by her office five years ago. She alleged the prisoners were taken to Albania by ethnic Albanians, and their organs were then trafficked abroad.

The leaders of Kosovo — a territory which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and whose population is mainly ethnic Albanian — have rejected the allegations several times. The 1998-1999 conflict between Kosovo guerrillas and forces loyal to late Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic left around 10,000 people dead

Turkey: Greek diplomat returned after espionage claims

28. December 2009. | 07:02

Source: Zaman

A diplomat at the Greek Consulate in İzmir returned to Greece after the Turkish Foreign Ministry asked Greece to recall its diplomat over allegedly handing over Turkish military secrets to Greece.

A diplomat at the Greek Consulate in İzmir returned to Greece after the Turkish Foreign Ministry asked Greece to recall its diplomat over allegedly handing over Turkish military secrets to Greece.

The National Intelligence Organization (MİT), following nearly a year of information gathering, has revealed that a diplomat working at the Greek Consulate in İzmir was working as a spy. The scandal grew after three suspects were detained on Thursday in a counterterrorism operation carried out by the İzmir Police Department over charges of collecting confidential information and espionage on behalf of another country for material gain.

MİT followed the three suspects and found out that the suspects had attended many military and naval exercises and tried to photograph what was going on from as close as possible. The suspects were accused of giving Greece information on state secrets and military installation plans, military vehicle activity and military exercises. The suspects allegedly received 500-1,000 euros in proportion to the value of the information passed on.

MİT also closely monitored every step and activity of the diplomat for almost a year. It then presented its findings to the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Ministry. The Foreign Ministry then asked Greece to withdraw its diplomat or have Turkey declare him persona non grata. Once a diplomat is labeled persona non grata, his or her diplomatic career is seen as over because no country would accept his/her credentials.

The Greek diplomat was found to have links with the three people who were arrested. An interrogation revealed that one of the suspects, who worked as a travel agent organizing day trips to the Greek islands, was threatened by Greek intelligence officials, who said they would prevent him from organizing trips to the Greek islands, severely affecting his business. Both the diplomat and the suspects allegedly passed on secret information to the Greek Intelligence Agency (EYP) at least once a month. EYP officials reportedly promised to provide a monthly salary of 10,000 euros, but the suspects say they were fooled.

Priest gives evidence in Blackburn man's Albanian orphans abuse trial

A PRIEST has flown to Albania to speak on behalf of a Blackburn charity worker accused of abusing orphans.

But Rev Bernard Cocker said that he believeed his mission was in vain because the Albanian legal system was flawed and his friend was 'sure to be convicted'.

Dino Christodoulou is set to spend his third Christmas behind bars awaiting the conclusion of his trail in the New Year.

And bosses at Amnesty International backed Rev Cocker's fears, saying that the courts in Albania were not fully transparent and that prison conditions amounted in some instances to 'inhuman and degrading treatment'.

There have also been calls in the former eastern Bloc country to tackle alleged corruption in the legal system.

Rev Cocker even claimed Christodoulou had been offered the chance to pay a £1,000 bribe to free himself, something that he rejected.

more see; http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/4821735.Priest_gives_evidence_in_Blackburn_man_s_Albanian_orphans_abuse_trial/

Priceless icons, relics stolen

More than 50 icons and other priceless religious artifacts dating to the 15th and 16th centuries were stolen from a church in Zagorochoria, Ioannina, including the relics of Saints Panteleimonas and Haralambos.

The theft was discovered by the local priest and parishioners when they arrived at the Church of the Virgin (Panaghia) in the village of Koukouli for the Christmas service.

The burglars broke into the Church from a small window after cutting its iron frame.

According to an initial inventory, the burglars made away with more than 50 icons, several gospels, exapteriga (six-winged liturgical ripidia), chalices, relics of Saints Panteleimonas and Haralambos, and several other sacred vessels, all of great value dated to the time of the church's construction between the 15th and 16th century.

Several years earlier, burglars had stolen the church's priceless Epitaphios (carved bier of Jesus Christ carried throughout the community in a funerary procession on Good Friday).

Police have launched a manhunt for the thieves.