„Any hurried or imposed solution that unilaterally favors one and harms the other side is essentially not implementable and unfair (…) The solution must be reached jointly, under EU mediation but also with the final consent of the UN Security Council. Otherwise, a possible comprehensive agreement will set an unparalleled precedent in international law,“ the abbot of Visoki Decani, Sava Janjic assessed.
Following a three-day visit to Kosovo, the EU envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak is currently staying in Belgrade.
Speaking in support of this dialogue, Fr. Sava stated that it is important primarily for the normalization of life in Kosovo and the wider region. In his words, it is the ordinary citizens who must be the real winners of the dialogue, regardless of their origin and religion – and not politicians.
„Continuation of the dialogue in good will to improve people’s lives, protect the endangered Serbian heritage in Kosovo, halt the emigration of young people and improve the economic situation is vital for both Serbs and Kosovo Albanians,“ he said, describing the dialogue within which Serbia is supposed to „fulfill the wishes of the other party under pressure“ as absurd.
„The main precondition for dialogue is equal respect for rights and freedoms for everyone in Kosovo, and that is not the case at the moment,“ he said, noting that he fully agrees with the view that hurried and imposed solutions are “absolutely unacceptable.”
„Insisting on border changes, which is contrary to UN Resolution 1244, as a precondition for an agreement, is an open call for further conflict in the entire region,“ the abbot emphasized.
„A comprehensive agreement that would endanger the essential survival of the Serb people and the Serbian Orthodox Church, leading to the eradication of Serb history, would be an open example of political dictate, which would sooner or later lead to a conflict that would threaten the entire region and the EU itself. No normal and dignified country would accept that in its internationally recognized territory.“
A fair solution to the Kosovo situation will have a great effect on the future and reputation of the EU as a mediator, Father Sava alerted.
„In this role, the EU, with a strong position of member states that have not recognized Kosovo, primarily due to possible consequences for their countries and stability, has an obligation under its rules to remain status neutral and a good will mediator.“
According to Janjic, the role of the US in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is also very important, especially if the pursuit of a balanced solution with EU mediation, respect for human and religious rights, especially the protection of SOC shrines, is supported.
„Solutions that will improve the entire region, but also in an active role in the process of implementing of everything that was agreed,“ he added.
„Currently, it is important to continue the EU-mediated dialogue, without deadlines, toxic rhetoric and endangering the security of Serbs in Kosovo, who must not become collateral damage of (geo)political interests. Depending on the extent to which the nationalist narrative will be overcome, the rule of law and the freedom of all will be promoted equally, a path will be opened toward improving the quality of life of all in Kosovo and the wider region.“
Commenting on the stance of the vast majority of Serbia’s citizens and the Serb diaspora regarding the idea of Serbia eventually recognizing the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo, Father Sava recalled the recent words of the new Serbian patriarch Porfirije, who said that the referendum on Kosovo was held on Vidovdan in 1389.
„It is not a slogan of the Church that is denying the rights of others, or a call for conflict, but simply the position of the majority of the people of Serbia, which would be confirmed by a possible referendum. For the majority of our people, the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is exclusively a technical dialogue on ways to improve the lives of all communities in Kosovo, and not a conversation about changing Serbia’s borders,“ Father Sava concluded.
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