Apostolic Nuncio to Serbia Orlando Antonini has stated that position of the Holy See, which did not recognize Kosovo as independent, remains unchanged.

He told Belgrade-based daily Politika that he did not believe that the Vatican would discuss the issue of the Kosovo status until Belgrade-Priština negotiations were finished. New Apostolic Nuncio to Slovenia Monsignor Juliusz Janusz was also appointed as apostolic delegate to Kosovo on Thursday.

The Apostolic Nunciature in Belgrade said yesterday that Janusz's appointment was not a diplomatic one.

"The appointment of the apostolic delegate for this function of the Catholic Church organizational structure has a purely religious character and is completely different from the matter of legal and territorial situation which will remain the same when it comes to Kosovo," said the announcement.

Antonini stressed that appointments of apostolic delegates "were not rare", adding that the decision did not change the Holy See's position on Kosovo.

He reiterated that the appointment of Monsignor Janusz was but a mere inter-church decision, which was in no way related to the legal and territorial issues the Holy See dealt with or to any of its diplomatic activity.

Antonini also added that the Serbian government, which accredited the Nunciature, had been informed of the decision.