FRIAR ANDJELOVIC'S LETTER TO PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC

SARAJEVO, Nov 27 (Hina) - Head of the Bosnian Friars' Province of "Bosna Srebrna', Friar Petar Andjelovic, forwarded today a letter to President of B-H Presidency Alija Izetbegovic. The letter says: "There have been fifteen days since unknown perpetrators murdered my brothers, Friars Nikica Milicevic and Leon Migic, in the old Fojnica monastery (Central Bosnia), the symbol of the Bosnian spirit and perseverance. You have also said, and it is true, that it were not only shots at the Bosnian friars, teachers and preachers of love and nations' coexistence, but also shots at Bosnia, its long past, and what is most painful, at its future. I hope, and You have also promised, that the perpetrators of the atrocious act be soon found." The letter further explains that the Bosnian Friars do not ask for the discovery of the perpetrators so that they could be punished. It is not in accordance to their Christian ethics of forgiving. The perpetrators should be found, so that peoples' trusts to the state authorities could be restored, as well as their belief in the national, ethnic and religious freedom. According to the letter of Friar Andjelovic, in case that the investigation into the murder of the Bosnian Friars should prolong, it could encourage others to commit another crimes. In his letter to Mr. Izetbegovic Friar Andjelovic expresses his fears that the Bosnian Friars' Monasteries in Fojnica and Kraljeva Sutjeska with their rich heritage are not sufficiently protected. In Friar Andjelovic's mind, if, God forbid, some similar crimes as it was in the Monastery of Fojnica, should again happen, this would be a fatal strike to the many-century-old way of life that the Bosnian Friars have built in Bosnia. The letter concludes with the belief of Friar Andjelovic that all concerned would do their best in order to bridge over gaps between peoples in this area. 271325 MET nov 93