Monday, 18th February 2008. 2:56pm
By: George Conger.
CHURCH and state officials in Russia have denounced Kosovo’s declaration of independence as a breach of international law and a threat to Orthodoxy.
Kosovan independence “is a defeat of the Orthodox world and the further destruction of disobedient Orthodox Serbia,” said Russian nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of the Liberal Democratic party in the Duma.
On Feb 18 the predominantly ethnic Albanian province of Serbia declared independence — a decision rejected by Serbia and Russia, but backed by the Western powers. "Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine will be lynched in the same manner later," Zhirinovsky told the Interfax news agency.
Archpriest Vsevolod, Chaplain to the deputy chief of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Relations, said the unilateral declaration was a breach of international law, “one of the most crucial principles of which is the inviolability of territorial integrity of the state.
"This principle in the international legal system is not inferior to the idea of human rights, and an attempt to otherwise interpret international law is biased," Fr Vsevolod said in Moscow today.
The failure of the EU, Britain and the US to prevent the secession "is a most serious blow to the very foundation of the legal system of international relations," he told Interfax.
The Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Kosovo, Artemije of Rasko-Prizren called upon Russia to use military force to protect fellow Orthodox Slavs in Kosovo. “It is necessary to address Russia and other countries a proposal to set their military presence in Serbia and send their volunteers to help us in our righteous fight,” he said.
In a statement posted on his diocesan website the bishop called upon his fellow Serbs in Kosovo to stay put and resist the Albanian “occupation”, but feared the Kosovan Albanians would expel the Serbs from Kosovo.
"We know them well and we expect that there will be attempts to complete the practice of violent ethnic cleansing and destruction of remaining monuments of our cultural legacy, a legacy that bears evidence to our having been in this land for many centuries," the bishop said.
"I would like to hope that the Serb Orthodox Church which has an old spiritual centre in this province will continue normal life in Kosovo, by developing its mission and service," Fr Vsevolod said, however “previous events leave little hope for this," he added.
The Vatican called for "prudence and moderation" on Monday, asking political leaders to show "a decisive and concrete commitment to ward off extremist reactions and violence.”
"The Holy Father continues to look with affection at the people of Kosovo and Serbia, is close to them and is praying at this crucial moment of their history," the statement said.
Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said the Roman Catholic Church hoped all parties would guarantee the respect and safety of Kosovo’s ethnic and religious minorities.
SOURCE:
By: George Conger.
CHURCH and state officials in Russia have denounced Kosovo’s declaration of independence as a breach of international law and a threat to Orthodoxy.
Kosovan independence “is a defeat of the Orthodox world and the further destruction of disobedient Orthodox Serbia,” said Russian nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of the Liberal Democratic party in the Duma.
On Feb 18 the predominantly ethnic Albanian province of Serbia declared independence — a decision rejected by Serbia and Russia, but backed by the Western powers. "Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine will be lynched in the same manner later," Zhirinovsky told the Interfax news agency.
Archpriest Vsevolod, Chaplain to the deputy chief of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Relations, said the unilateral declaration was a breach of international law, “one of the most crucial principles of which is the inviolability of territorial integrity of the state.
"This principle in the international legal system is not inferior to the idea of human rights, and an attempt to otherwise interpret international law is biased," Fr Vsevolod said in Moscow today.
The failure of the EU, Britain and the US to prevent the secession "is a most serious blow to the very foundation of the legal system of international relations," he told Interfax.
The Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Kosovo, Artemije of Rasko-Prizren called upon Russia to use military force to protect fellow Orthodox Slavs in Kosovo. “It is necessary to address Russia and other countries a proposal to set their military presence in Serbia and send their volunteers to help us in our righteous fight,” he said.
In a statement posted on his diocesan website the bishop called upon his fellow Serbs in Kosovo to stay put and resist the Albanian “occupation”, but feared the Kosovan Albanians would expel the Serbs from Kosovo.
"We know them well and we expect that there will be attempts to complete the practice of violent ethnic cleansing and destruction of remaining monuments of our cultural legacy, a legacy that bears evidence to our having been in this land for many centuries," the bishop said.
"I would like to hope that the Serb Orthodox Church which has an old spiritual centre in this province will continue normal life in Kosovo, by developing its mission and service," Fr Vsevolod said, however “previous events leave little hope for this," he added.
The Vatican called for "prudence and moderation" on Monday, asking political leaders to show "a decisive and concrete commitment to ward off extremist reactions and violence.”
"The Holy Father continues to look with affection at the people of Kosovo and Serbia, is close to them and is praying at this crucial moment of their history," the statement said.
Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said the Roman Catholic Church hoped all parties would guarantee the respect and safety of Kosovo’s ethnic and religious minorities.
SOURCE:
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