Gesendet am: Sonntag, 12. Juli
1998 02:10
An: circular
Betreff:
THE PUBLIC STATEMENT BY THE HOLY SYNOD OF BISHOPS OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX
CHURCH
THE HOLY SYNOD OF BISHOPS OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
THE PUBLIC STATEMENT, Belgrade, July 9 1998.
The Serbian Orthodox Church with concern of a
mother for her children is attentively following the situation in
Kosovo and Metohija, especially in the laste several months.
Being aware of its role in the history of the
Serbian people, the Church expresses today its most serious concern
because of the deterioration of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, especially
after recurrent armed conflits in which the victims are mostly the innocent
civilians on both sides.
Therefore the Church urgently appeals on the representatives of the Serbian and the Albanain people, as well as on the internatinoal community, to do all they can in order that any violence in Kosovo and Metohija is stopped immediately and that the existing problems are resolved in peaceful and democratic methods, through the unconditional dialog. In respect to that the Church expects her representatives to be directly included in the peace talks because Kosovo and Metohija is its cenutries-old spiritual center and is essential for its identity.
The Church also calls all citizens to be tolerant and respect the rights of every human being. It condemnes any form of discrimination on religious or ethnic basis as well as every kind of repression. The Church calls the people of Kosovo and Metohja to live peacefuly together in mutual respect in which lies the future not only of this region but also of the whole world.
THE HOLY SYNOD OF BISHOPS
--
Decani Monastery
38322 Decani, Serbia, Yugoslavia
http://www.decani.yunet.com
E-mail: decani@EUnet.yu tel (fax) +381 390 61543 +381 390 61567
"We are experiencing the situation in Kosova, especially in the municipality of Deçan, with pain. We did not have any problems these past few years. We are sorry for these incidents, where civilians and buildings inhabited by civilians, are the ones to suffer"
Deçan, 17 July (ARTA) 1600CET--
KD: Albanian sources claimed that Serb paramilitary forces are staying at the monastery of Deçan. You denied this on several occasions...
Sava: Like I said in the past, and sent denials to the Kosova Information Center and Albanian daily "Koha Ditore", there are no armed units, not to mentions paramilitary ones, in the premises of the monastery. Only monks inhabit the monastery. We also help the refugees, which came here these last months from the surrounding regions. So, in other words, there are only civilians in the monastery and we are doing are best for the monastery to be what it should, a spiritual place where there is no space for armed conflicts. We declared ourselves for the conflict several times, saying that it must be avoided that violence must stop.
KD: Did the atmosphere of Deçan, where fighting has been taking place for quite a long time, reflect on the monastery?
Sava: We are experiencing the situation in Kosova, especially in the municipality of Deçan, with pain. We had good relations with Albanians as well as the Serbs of the region. We did not have any problems these past few years. We are sorry for these incidents, where civilians and buildings inhabited by civilians, are the ones to suffer. When the operation ended and we saw what really happened in Deçan, we reacted by issuing a communiqué, condemning all forms of violence, especially against civilians and calling for peace and a peaceful solution to the conflict, through dialogue. We also organized humanitarian actions. We offered help to the Serb families, as well as Albanian ones, living in Deçan. I visit these families on regular basis and we now have very comfortable and humane relations with them, which they can confirm.
KD: How do you see the solution to the problem of Kosova?
Sava: The most important thing is for the fighting to stop, so a good atmosphere for talks could be created. Then, of course, the issue of Kosova would have to be solved. Both sides must be prepared to make concessions, but we must face the future. As for the solution itself and what the definite status will be, we as a Church cannot say. This issue is for political representatives, but we consider and want for the solution to be acceptable for everybody and ensure a peaceful life for all people, especially in Kosova.
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