Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II hopes UN to protect Serbian minority in Kosovo

10.04.2008, 17.40

MOSCOW, April 10 (Itar-Tass) - Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II hopes the U.N. will protect the Serbian minority in Kosovo. The Russian church hierarch made a statement after a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the patriarchal residence at the St. Daniil Monastery on Thursday.

The patriarch believes that the preservation of the U.N. depends on how its governing bodies will take into account the interests of various countries and peoples. “We state with regret that the UN states failed to reach agreement on Kosovo and Metohija that resulted in the self-proclamation of Kosovo’s sovereignty,” Alexy II said. He recalled that the Russian Orthodox Church supports the Serbian Orthodox Church, which recognized the act of Kosovo’s parliament unlawful. The patriarch expressed hope that the U.N. would make every effort to provide the access of the Christian believers to Orthodox shrines in Kosovo and would avert acts of defamation against religious facilities.

“I believe that Ban Ki-moon is ready for cooperation with clergymen and take into account the opinion of religious leaders,” the patriarch said. He is confident that this position of the UN chief will contribute to the attainment of peace, accord, the rapprochement of civilizations and the protection of human rights. “The position of the UN secretary general on Kosovo also gives hope that the U.N. will protect the Serbian minority living in this country, and Orthodox churches, which are situated on the Kosovo soil and are national shrines for the Serbian people, will receive a special status,” the patriarch pointed out. “We hope for further cooperation with the U.N. and are ready to contribute in the success of its work for the sake of peace all over the world,” he said.

“On the whole the Russian Orthodox Church assesses positively the development of the dialogue between the religious community and various UN bodies. Meanwhile, international organisations are designed to reflect the interests of various countries and peoples and should not be guided by the secular approach in their activities,” the patriarch said.

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