Serbian president Boris Tadic attends Orthodox Christmas mass in Kosovo - a former Serbian province.<br/> Tadic is a regular visitor to this 14th century marble monastery in Decani - one of a number of sites in Kosovo revered by Serbs.<br/> But he is not always welcome - his convoy was reportedly pelted with stones by hundreds of Kosovo Albanians on route to the monastery.<br/> Kosovo, which is 90 per cent Albanian, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 - the last state in the former Yugoslavia to do so - after years of bloody fighting.<br/> Serbia rejects the secession however and Tadic has said his country will never recognise Kosovo's independence.<br/> Tensions have been rising since last July when Kosovo's government tried to stamp its authority on a part of the country mainly inhabited by Serbs.<br/> After the mass,Tadic said he was sending a message of peace.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) SERBIAN PRESIDENT BORIS TADIC, SAYING:<br/> "Only the message of peace makes sense for Christmas, because of this today I send this message to all the citizens of Kosovo, Serbs and Albanians and to representatives of international community."<br/> The spike in tensions between the two countries cost Serbia a shot at membership of the European Union last month.<br/> Sunita Rappai, Reuters
