BOSNIAN SERB ORTHODOX CHURCH WARNS ABOUT POSSIBLE CLOSURE

SARAJEVO, Dec 29 (Hina) - The head of the Bosnian Serb Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Nikolaj, has refused to forward the traditional Christmas message via the electronic media in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, forbidding the live coverage of the Christmas service, broadcast live regularly all previous post- war years. The Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina Television (FTV) and the TV network OBN carried a statement issued by the Metropolitan's office saying the Serb Orthodox Church did not want to "participate in the creation of a fake multiethnic image of Bosnia-Herzegovina." The statement issued from the seat of the Bosnian Serb Orthodox Church, which before the war moved from Sarajevo to Mt. Romanija, also said the church was considering closure on the entire territory of the Croat-Muslim federation. According to the statement, the Orthodox Church has been fighting for years without any result with the federal authorities for the restitution of property and its priests and believers have been exposed to constant threats and persecution. The statement also says that Orthodox churches and cemeteries in the federation are being constantly desecrated. Along with the federal authorities, the church also accused the international community, particularly its High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch, of not once using his powers to protect the interests of the Orthodox Church. (hina) rml