Bishop Artemije, known for his opposition to the regime of former President Slobodan Milosevic and for his defense of the Serbian Kosovars, has been in the Czech Republic since last Friday, invited by Orthodox Bishop Krystof of Prague. Today Bishop Artemije met with Czech President Vaclav Havel.

The Serbian Orthodox bishop believes that the NATO bombings caused a greater tragedy than they tried to avoid.

"However, the greatest tragedy occurred when the bombing ceased and peace was signed, and the KFOR military forces arrived in Kosovo," he said. "They did not bring peace and liberty for all Kosovars, but only for the Albanians. Then the expulsion of Serbians, gypsies and other ethnic minorities began."