January 08, 2007

KiM Info Newsletter 08-01-07

UNMIK HAVING DIFFICULTIES IMPLEMENTING ITS OWN DECISION ON PROTECTED ZONE AROUND THE MONASTERY

Illegally constructed buildings near Visoki Decani Monastery still have not been removed

It is the opinion of the monastery administration that the owner of the illegally constructed buildings is trying to buy time and waiting for snow in order to avoid the implementation of the decision for the destruction of the buildings altogether. What is especially concerning in this situation is the fact that the local municipality and police are very passive and not showing any determination at all in implementing the law, while UNMIK is unable to more effectively influence the implementation of the decision on the protected zone. Since the problem with expansion of the illegally constructed facility began, no one from the municipality has found it necessary to visit the monastery and discuss the matter with the abbot

KIM Info Service
Decani, January 5, 2007

The illegally constructed buildings near Visoki Decani Monastery still have not been removed. Although an official order to tear down the buildings has supposedly been issued by the municipality, the so-called "owner" of the buildings Naim Kuci is doing everything possible to delay its implementation. On December 28 members of the police appeared in front of the illegally built restaurant with a bulldozer and the removal order; however, the owner stopped the destruction of the buildings by saying he would remove it himself. More than a week has passed and as of today (January 5) when the latest photographs were taken, there was no one near the buildings. It is the opinion of the monastery administration that the owner of the illegally constructed buildings is trying to buy time and waiting for snow in order to avoid the implementation of the decision for the destruction of the buildings altogether.

What is especially concerning in this situation is the fact that the local municipality and police are very passive and not showing any determination at all in implementing the law, while UNMIK is unable to more effectively influence the implementation of the decision on the protected zone. Since the problem with expansion of the illegally constructed facility began, no one from the municipality has found it necessary to visit the monastery and discuss the matter with the abbot.

Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, the abbot of Visoki Decani Monastery, will discuss the current situation with UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker who is expected to visit Visoki Decani Monastery for the Nativity of Our Lord. The chief Commissioner of UNMIK police is also exepcted to visit the monastery sometime during the day.

Decani Monastery has informed a number of international organizations concerned with issues of religious freedom and protection of cultural heritage regarding the problem of illegal construction and attempts to turn the monastery surroundings into an industrial zone. The monastery emphasized that in addition to the issue of physical security under present conditions in Kosovo, where 150 Serbian holy shrines have been destroyed since 1999, they are also the victims of steady disregard by local authorities who turn a blind eye to violations of the law representing a long-term threat to the survival of the Serbian Orthodox Christian heritage in this region.

Situation unchanged - Illegally constructed buildings near Visoki Decani Monastery

West Must Do More to Protect Christian Heritage in Kosovo

WASHINGTON, January 4, 2007 (Tanjug)

The secretary general of the Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights, Fr. Keith Roderick, has warned the West, in a statement for U.S. radio, that it is not doing enough to protect the Christian heritage in Kosovo and Metohija.

"Despite the presence of UNMIK in protected zones around religious sites, illegal activities against Christian churches, such as the announced construction of a factory near Visoki Decani Monastery, are continuing. We believe this to be a very serious violation because such activity means the undermining of the rule of law and authority of local government," Roderick told Voice of America. Freedom of religion and worship is an issue which, in Roderick's opinion, must be addressed directly by the international community - "primarily in order to preserve the Christian heritage, i.e. the heritage of the Serbs and other minorities ... If this is not resolved, I think that parochial and local tensions will reach regional dimensions with uncertain consequences," emphasized Roderick.

Responding to a question by Voice of America as to what the West, specifically the USA, is doing to protect the Christian heritage in Kosovo and Metohija, Roderick first assessed that probably it was not doing enough. Then he pointed out the fact that institutions in the USA such as the Agency for Protection of Religious Rights and the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom, are studying reports from Kosovo on religious discrimination and persecution.

"These are two important institutions with ties to the U.S. administration that are attempting to put pressure on the government of Kosovo so it respects the religious freedom of Serbs and others, and protects the Christian tradition," emphasized Roderick.

(Translator's note: Fr. Roderick's statements were translated from the Serbian.)

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