MOSCOW, January 13, 2004. /RIA Novosti correspondent Olga Lipich/. Russians will support the Serbian minority in Kosovo /an autonomy in Serbia/ and will help to preserve its cultural heritage, President of the Foundation of St. Andrew the First-Called Alexander Melnik told a press conference in RIA Novosti on the trip to Kosovo and Metohija on January 4-8 by the delegation of the foundation, representatives of the Federation Council, the Russian Orthodox Church and Russia media.
"We have already prepared practical peacekeeping initiatives to be realized at the public level," Melnik said.
In particular, 600 Serbian children from Kosovo and Metohija will spend summer vacations in Russia. Serbs living in Kosovo will get humanitarian assistance. The most needy families will move to Russia. Russia's regional authorities will be involved in this project.
In addition, Russia will help to preserve and restore Orthodox shrines in Kosovo and Metohija. The talks on particular objects needing assistance will continue during Bishop Artemy of Raska and Prizren /Kosovo and Metohija/ to Moscow on January 20-25.
