The afternoon of Thursday, June 17, 2004, the head of a team created by UN secretary general Kofi Annan to investigate the causes and consequences of the March violence in Kosovo and Metohija, Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide, met with Bishop Artemije of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija.

The Norwegian diplomat expressed his understanding for the difficult position of the Serb community, especially after the March riots, but emphasized that participation of Kosovo Serbs in provisional institutions of the Province is the only way toward normalizing the situation and creating better living conditions for the Serb community.

Bishop Artemije emphasized that it is necessary, first of all, to begin with the right diagnosis of the Kosovo problem and then to apply the "therapy" which should not consist of "prescribing two aspirins"  as before but of more decisive measures to neutralize Albanian extremism. After this "shock therapy", the Bishop said, it is necessary to create security conditions for the return of displaced Serbs and then to implement the decentralization of the Province in such a way as to permit local self-administration for the Serb community in places where it is in the majority with special protection for patrimonial sites. If the process of resolving the Kosovo problem unfolds in this direction, i.e., toward the full implementation of UN SC Resolution 1244, then Serb participation in institutions is possible.

Otherwise, if the UN Mission continues simulating democracy and transferring competencies to institutions that serve as a mechanism for ethnic repression against Serbs and secession of the Province, then Serb participation in those institutions would be absurd.

Bishop Artemije repeated that the Serbs are ready to cooperate but only if political processes move toward the full implementation of Resolution 1244 and the realization of a free and dignified life for the Serb community. By participating in institutions without serious reform of the UN Mission and its return within the framework foreseen by UN SC Resolution 1244, Serbs in Kosovo institutions would serve only as political decorations necessary to the Albanians and certain international circles who wish to justify their failed mission to date and complete the secession of the southern Serbian province.

Bishop Artemije informed the Norwegian diplomat that the situation in the Province since March 17 has not improved.

"Not a single Albanian or international representative has resigned and accepted responsibility for the tragic events that occurred; moreover, the pressure and threats, crimes and obstruction of return for expelled Serbs is still continuing. The restoration of Serb houses is more political marketing than a process to enable the return of the expelled, and at present there is no prospect of any of the 150 churches that have been destroyed since June 1999 being restored in the foreseeable future. Kosovo Serbs still lack all fundamental human and religious rights. Because of the lack of adequate KFOR troops and shaken confidence in the ability of the NATO alliance to confront Albanian ethnic violence, the process of returns has come to an almost complete standstill; at the same time, every day new Serb families are leaving their centuries-old homes out of fear for their children and in search of a dignified and free life. Although currently we have superficial peace, the potential for violence exists because the chief organizers of ethnic cleansing of the Serbs are still free."

Bishop Artemije expressed the hope that Mr. Eide's report would accurately reflect the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, and that it would contribute to the passing of political decisions necessary to move the situation forward from the present dead end.