London – June 2004. During the past year the major fundraising project for the British & Irish Delegation has been devoted in large part to the work of the Holy See in the Republic of Serbia and 
Montenegro.
Through the personal generosity of seven knights of the British & Irish Delegation, over US$851,000 has been donated to the Apostolic Nunciature in Belgrade, capital city of the former Yugoslavia. A meeting was held in London with the Apostolic Nuncio to Serbia & Montenegro, His Excellency Archbishop Eugenio Sbarbaro where it was agreed that the Delegation’s support would be given to fund a series of high-level inter-faith and inter-church initiatives in the former war-torn Balkan nation.
This financial and moral support has included the funding of a series of publications in Serbian, English and Albanian which clearly explain the precise role of His Holiness Pope John Paul II and the Holy See during the recent war in the former Yugoslavia. These publications has proved extremely valuable in illustrating the positive and constructive role which the Holy See played throughout the crisis and have been warmly received from Orthodox, Muslim, civil and governmental leaders in the country.
Uniquely in this predominately Orthodox nation, which has at times witnessed both historic and contemporary ecumenical hostility, the books include forewords from His Holiness Patriarch Pavel of Serbia, HE Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi of Kosovo and Serbian Ambassador to the Holy See, HE Dr Darko Tanaskovic.
A substantial part of the donation, which was made throughout the past twelve months, has also funded the partial restoration of the Apostolic Nunciature and the Delegation expects that during the forthcoming year, sufficient funding will be raised to allow for the projects completion.
For those wishing to further support this initiative or to receive a copy of ‘The Holy See and the Crisis in Kosovo’ please contact the Chancery.