XPost: alt.religion.christian.east-orthodox, alt.christian.religion, alt.religion.christianity
XPost: alt.politics.religion, soc.rights.human
The latest State Department Report on International Religious Freedoms
for 2018 focused on violations of religious rights of the Serbian
Orthodox Church in Kosovo, especially Decani Monastery
23. June 2019 - 21:54
In the most recent report of the State Department on International
Religious Freedom in 2018 particular attention was paid to violations
of religious and property rights of the Serbian Orthodox Church in
Kosovo. We are presenting an important passage focusing on Visoki
Decani Monastery, the Monument of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage
and a Monument on the List of the World Heritage in Danger. This site
is obviously still target not only of armed extremists who attacked it
for years but also Kosovo official institutions which do not stop with institutional pressures on this 700 years old Christian site.
"The SOC (Serbian Orthodox Church) and international organiyations
said Decan/Decani municipal officials continued to refuse to implement
a 2016 Constitutional Court decision confirming the Supreme Court's
2012 ruling that the municipality should return more than 24 hectares
(59 acres) of land to the SOC's Visoki Decani Monastery. Mayor of
Decan/Decani Bashkim Ramosaj continued throughout the year to refer to
the decision as unacceptable. Government authorities did not hold him
or other municipal officials to account for failing to implement the Constitutional Court decision. NATO Kosovo Force, also known as KFOR,
troops continued to provide security at the monastery.
Decan/Decani Municipality moved forward with plans to construct a road
through the SPZ (Special protective zone) near Visoki Decani
Monastery. According to EU and OSCE legal opinions issued during the
year., Kosovo law forbids the construction of a transit road through
an SPZ.The Prime Minister's Office disputed this legal interpretation.
In 2014 the IMC (*Implementation Monitoring Council for Protective
Zones*) decided the planned road would violate the law. The IMC
reaffirmed the road's illegality at an April meeting."
The entire Report on Kosovo Religious Freedom, the passages on Decani
are on page 7: 2018 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kosovo <
https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/KOSOVO-2018-INTERNATIONAL-RELIGIOUS-FREEDOM-REPORT.pdf>
The EU Office in Kosovo issued a public statement one year after the
Court decision (20 April 2017) with an appeal that the rule of law
must be respected:
“The EU is concerned by a continued lack of implementation of the 20
May 2016 Constitutional Court ruling on the land dispute case in
Decan/e. Decisions by Kosovo's highest legal authority are conclusive
and must be implemented. The EU calls on authorities at all levels to demonstrate respect for the rule of law as a fundamental democratic
principle. Full implementation of the ruling should take place without
delay. The EU further condemns any actions to block access to or
otherwise disrupt life at the Visoki Decani monastery.” <
https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/kosovo/24839/eu-concerned-lack-implementation-constitutional-court-ruling-land-dispute-case-decane_en>
In the last two years the US Ambassadors Mr. Delawie and Mr. Kosnett
have issued repeated statements requesting the rule of law be
respected. These apeals were blantly ingored by Kosovo Prime Minister
Haradinaj who remains staunchly opposed to the decision as well as the
local Municipal Authorities. The Head of EU Office Mrs. Nataliya
Apostolova reacted again a month ago issuing a request for the
implementation of the Constitutional Court decision, again with no
results. Last August the group of EU ambassadors and heads of mission
in Pristina resolutely opposed to the construction of the transit road
next to the 700 years old UNESCO World Heritage site. Kosovo
Government has not given up the idea but remains stubbornly persistent
to complete the road despite of Kosovo legislation in which such
activity is prohibited and cannot be approved neither by the monastery
nor international or local authorities.
The recent tweets by the Head of the EU Office in Kosovo and the US
Ambassador Philip S. Kosnett related to the Decani Monastery religious
and property rights:
<
https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/kosovo/62769/statement-head-eu-officeeu-special-representative-nataliya-apostolova_en>
The Diocese is taking this opportunity to thank to Mrs. Apostolova and
Mr. Kosnett and all internatonal representatives in Kosovo who have
been focused on protection of religious and property rights, rule of
law and order.
Source:
https://t.co/tCDs6abJLD
--
Keep well,
Steve Hayes
http://people.tribe.net/hayesstw
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