Byzantine Blog

Serbian Orthodox Church: Kosovo-Metohija Not a Gift Ahtisaari Can Make

Kosovo and Metohija has been inhabited by the Serbs for more than thousand years, and in its day, until the great migrations of the Serbian people, it has been inhabited almost exclusively by the Serbs. Everyone knows — as long as they want to know — that Kosovo-Metohija is the center of the medieval Serbian state and the cradle of Serbian culture. Right there, in the Patriarchate of Pec, is the first and central see of the Serbian Orthodox Church up to this very day.

In the sense of statehood, according to the international law, Kosovo-Metohija is an inalienable part of Serbia. The legally binding Treaty of Bucharest from August 10, 1913 attests to this, as well as dozens of resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council, the Paris Agreement from 1995 and numerous legal acts of the European Union, Russia, USA, Great Britain, Germany, France…

Everyone knows this, except for a politician by the name of Martti Ahtisaari who does not know, or it will probably be that he does not want to know. Without a single word of explanation, even if a phony one, he suggests, contrary to all the norms of international procedure, that Kosovo-Metohija should be taken away from Serbia. What he in fact suggests is that Serbia, an internationally recognized sovereign state, ought to be legally assaulted. He does not recognize the power of law but the right of might. What an unparalleled breadth of democracy, let alone justice!

Contrary to this, the Serbian Orthodox Church has always clearly emphasized that justice preserves countries and cities, and that everything that is stolen is accursed. Would Mr. Ahtisaari apply “his” ingenious plan for resolving a crisis to his own country? Serbian Orthodox Church has no objections if he wishes to give his belongings to whomever he desires, but it cautions him that no one ever authorized him — nor could they have authorized him — to give a gift of Kosovo and Metohija.

According to the legal regulations the world is governed by, the status of Kosovo and Metohija is set forth: The Province is an integral part of Serbia. This status can be altered only with the approval of Serbia and insofar as its constitutional system were to be changed. Ahtisaari, assuredly, is neither authorized nor awarded with such a role.

The Holy Hierarchical Synod appeals to the conscientious men heading the international community to prevent Ahtisaari in his dangerous intent to forcefully seize, in someone’s name, from Serbia — one of the oldest European countries — the most precious part of its territory. The peaceful future cannot be built on the right of the might, or upon the dictate of the naked force, but on honoring the principles of affording equal dignity and equal opportunities to all.

Granted, the might does not call upon God, but that is why God also dislikes might. All the while — God is eternal, while might is always limited by time.

Public Communique of the Holy Hierarchical Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, on February 3, 2007, Serbian Patriarchate.

Bishop of Kosovo-Metohija, Artemije: Ahtisaari’s Proposal Unacceptable

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Feb. 2, 2007 — Bishop of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija Artemije said in Brussels on Friday, shortly after his talks with European Union special envoy for Kosovo status Stefan Lehne, that the proposal of Martti Ahtisaari was unacceptable for Serbs and Serbia because it viewed Kosovo as being separate from Serbia.

“We find as completely unacceptable any solution which leads towards Kosovo province’s disintegration from Serbia, and we shall never acknowledge it,” Bishop Artemije said at the Headquarters of the European Union Council.

“We cannot accept the guarantees and promises of the international community as it has failed to fulfill them up to now, let alone within an independent Kosovo,” Bishop Artemije said.