Platform - best way to resolve Kosovo issue
Serbian Patriarch Irinej has said on Sunday that the platform presented by the state leadership offers the best way to resolve the Kosovo issue and backed the dialogue between Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Kosovo Prime Minister Hasim Taci, underscoring that every problem has to be solved through dialogue.
(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Monday, December 31, 2012
Patriarch Irinej is of the opinion that the 'both Europe and Kosovo' policy is not impossible, but cautioned that "if someone demands from Serbia to give up on Kosovo so as to become a part of the European community, then it is too high a price that we cannot pay."
The Serbian Patriarch believes that certain details in the platform on Kosovo could be changed, but that the essence is good.
"The platform is a huge and important step. We could have drafted it even earlier, but it's never too late," the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church said in a statement to Radio Belgrade.
He supported the dialogue between Dacic and Taci, noting that "every problem has to be resolved through dialogue."
"I expect that the dialogue will yield a just solution. The Church deems it unacceptable that any kind of border be created between Serbia and Kosovo," Patriarch Irinej underlined.
"We are part of Europe- that is beyond question," the Patriarch said, noting that the Serbian history and culture are part of the European history and culture, and that "Serbia is de facto in Europe."
Patriarch Irinej said that no one wants to be outside Europe, and we all know how much Europe is important for us, as well as we know that we are of some importance for Europe.
"However, if we are to choose between Europe and Kosovo, then there is no dilemma. If we should sacrifice Kosovo and all in Kosovo so as to become part of the European community, then it is too high a price that no people can accept," Patriarch Irinej underscored.
