BELGRADE, March 18 (Hina) - Rasim Ljajic, Serbia-Montenegro's minister of human and ethnic minorities' rights, has said he feels humiliated by the setting of fire to mosques in Belgrade and Nis and that all of this will badly affect
Serbia's reputation in the world.
BELGRADE, March 18 (Hina) - Rasim Ljajic, Serbia-Montenegro's minister
of human and ethnic minorities' rights, has said he feels humiliated
by the setting of fire to mosques in Belgrade and Nis and that all of
this will badly affect Serbia's reputation in the world.#L#
The burning of mosques has caused huge damage to the country,
primarily political damage, Minister Ljajic was quoted by the local
Radio B92 as saying on Thursday.
"I am hurt in several ways: being a believer I feel humiliated, but
also as a man who has worked for three years to improve the country's
international image and who has stated that religious rights of all
religious communities have been upgraded. With the latest
developments, my statements have been denied in a way," Ljajic told
the radio.
Bajrakli Mosque in Belgrade, which was demolished on early Thursday
morning, was built in the 16th century, while the burnt Islam-Agina
Mosque in Nis was built in 1720 and reconstructed in 1870. The latter
was the only completely preserved mosque in that Serbian city out of a
score built during the Ottoman rule in the area.
(Hina) ms sb