Focusing on problems in North Kosovo in recent months, while simultaneously disregarding the deplorable state of human rights and freedoms of Serbs and other minority communities in other parts of Kosovo, creates a deeply misleading picture suggesting that Serbs in ethnic Albanian majority areas are satisfied and safe, the Visoki Decani monastery announced today in response to the recent burning of a Serb returnee house near Istok.
Three days after he received the keys to his new home in the village of Verici near Istok, Svetislav Jozic’s house caught fire during a time he briefly left the village.
Jozic claims that it was arson, which is also how the police initially classified the case.
Immediately, international officials, organizations, and officials in Pristina and Belgrade criticized as they pointed out, the burning of their family home.
The US ambassador in Pristina visited the site yesterday, saying that such a „criminal act“ is unacceptable, and calling on the Kosovo authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible.
The Visoki Decani monastery said that they greatly appreciate such public condemnations of the burning of a Serb returnee’s house, noting that:
“Regrettably, this incident is not an isolated event, as the Serbian community in Kosovo, especially returnees, has been subjected to similar arson attacks and thefts for years.”
Such incidents have effectively halted the return process, they warned.
According to the monastery, it is essential that every citizen, irrespective of their ethnicity or religion, be permitted to live freely on their property without fear of intimidation or attack.
Furthermore, it is the obligation of Kosovo’s authorities, particularly the police and judiciary, to thoroughly investigate these incidents of arson and other forms of violence affecting vulnerable communities, the monastery underlined.
“Unfortunately, numerous previous attacks have not been thoroughly investigated, if investigated at all, creating an atmosphere of impunity. This discrimination fosters an environment of fear and uncertainty, inhibiting peaceful coexistence and reconciliation among communities in Kosovo.”
While welcoming the condemnation of the US ambassador, they state that the U.S. State Department’s detailed annual reports on the violation of religious rights in Kosovo, particularly those affecting the Serbian Orthodox Church, serve as a stark reminder of the daily challenges minority communities face.
“The US Ambassador’s message today serves as a clear indicator that supporting democracy in Kosovo does not grant carte blanche for mistreatment of minority communities. Instead, it obligates Kosovo to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, regardless of their ethnicity or religion.”
They emphasize that true democracy can only thrive in an environment where every citizen’s rights and safety of all communities are fully protected:
“Justice must be universal for all, not selective.”
They recalled that the U.S. embassy, along with other Western embassies, the EU, and the OSCE, have been urging the Kosovo Government for the last seven years to finally implement the 2016 ruling of the Kosovo Constitutional Court regarding the land of Decani monastery and to confirm their property rights, which the government continues to ignore.
Visoki Decani said that focusing on problems in North Kosovo in recent months, while simultaneously disregarding the deplorable state of human rights and freedoms of Serbs and other minority communities in other parts of Kosovo, creates a “deeply misleading picture suggesting that Serbs in ethnic Albanian majority areas are satisfied and safe.”
“Over the past 20 years, thousands of Serbs were forced to leave their homes due to ethnically motivated attacks and discrimination.”
The monastery added that the ambassador’s personal visit to the site of the arson attack carries “particular importance as a call for the improvement of human rights and freedoms for all citizens equally.”
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