Russian senator urges creation of international fund to protect Kosovo holy sites
Alexander Torshin, first deputy speaker of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, has proposed establishing an international fund to protect holy sites in Kosovo.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Wednesday, October 06, 2010
"It is necessary to set up a fund that would be international and would be responsible for helping rebuild, maintain and, should such a need arise, protect Orthodox churches and monasteries in Serbia's enclaves of Kosovo" Torshin told Interfax on Tuesday.
The Russian senator discussed this initiative during a visit to Kosovo, where he attended the enthronization of Serbian Patriarch Irinej.
"I discussed this idea with representatives from Italy, Germany, the U.S. and other countries, as well as separately with representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, where it was met with understanding," he said.
The enthronization of the Serbian Patriarch was a landmark event, he said.
The current situation in Kosovo requires urgent measures to help the fraternal Serbian people preserve holy sites located there, the Russian senator said.
