Fr Sava: Time has come for Kosovo Albanian leaders to finally say what kind of society they want

KiM-Info Newsletter 26-08-05

KIM Info-Service, Aug 26, 2005

Commentary by Fr. Sava Janjic

Admiral Gregory Johnson and Fr. Sava Janjic. Fr. Sava shows to NATO commander Admiral Johnson (USA) remains of burned icons and crosses from the church of St. Nicholas in Pristina destroyed in March 2004. "As a reminder that such acts of barbarity must never be allowed to happen again, I give you this piece of a burned cross depicting an angel. At this moment in time, it's the most precious and moving thing I can give you," said Fr. Sava (archive photo KIM Info, click to open photo in larger format)

Six years after the war we are back at the beginning. After all the efforts made by the international community to establish a peaceful and safe surrounding for all inhabitants of Kosovo, we are facing a situation in which some former UCK (Kosovo Liberation Army) warlords are openly threatening the most influential Christian religious institution in Kosovo and NATO troops, and producing libelous accusations with the clear goal of inciting ethnic hatred and instigating new riots in Kosovo.

Are the inhabitants of Kosovo going to follow these new incitations to hatred and believe these individuals despite their highly questionable moral credentials, or will they demonstrate wisdom, listen to the words of their international friends, and choose the way towards prosperous future?

After the most recent threats of the chief of the KLA veterans in western Kosovo, Avdyl Mushkolaj, international factors in Kosovo reacted promptly and made it clear that the language of hatred will not be tolerated. In a very clear and straightforward letter, DSRSG Larry Rossin, the former chief of US Mission in Kosovo and a senior US diplomat dealing with the Balkans, clearly explained that words of Mushkolaj published in "Epoka e Re" seriously "undercut great efforts made by PISG, religious figures and citizens of good will to bring the Kosovo Albanian and Kosovo Serb communities together".

Rossin, who is a frequent visitor of Visoki Decani Monastery, is well acquainted with the role of this community during and after the war, and has made tremendous efforts with UNMIK chief Mr. Soren Jessen-Petersen to help the monastery establish contacts with moderate Albanians. The letters by the OSCE chief in Kosovo Werner Wnendt and the Contact Group representatives equally emphasized that future of Kosovo is not in hatred, and that the media must take responsibility for building better future rather than leading society astray.

The preposterous accusations of Avdyl Mushkolaj and the systematic media campaign directed against the Serbian Orthodox Church and Kosovo Serbs by Muhamed Mavraj ("Epoka e Re" editor-in-chief) come at a most sensitive moment in Kosovo when the international community is getting ready to make a comprehensive assessment how much Kosovo society has progressed with respect to minority rights and freedoms, and how much is it mature for a democratic future in Europe. Therefore, it is now up to Kosovo Albanian political leaders, intellectuals and representatives of religious communities to clearly state whether they see the future of Kosovo in the dark visions of Avdyl Mushkolaj and other extremists responsible for so much evil that has happened to both Serbs and Albanians, or whether they see the future in tolerance, peace and development of a truly democratic society.

Admiral Harry Ulrich and Gen. Kermabon during the visit of high officers of the
NATO HQ in Naples to Decani Monastery pledged full support and protection of
Christian Holy Sites in Kosovo Province (click to open in larger format)

Regrettably, not one Kosovo Albanian leader so far has spoken out and distanced himself from these words of evil aimed against the Church. That is why Bishop Teodosije, the abbot of Visoki Decani Monastery, who has made tremendous efforts with his brethren in recent months to open a dialogue and build confidence with many prominent Kosovo Albanians, wrote a letter to UNMIK chief Soren Jessen-Peterson asking him to reiterate appeals and call on Kosovo Albanians to come out with a clear position on the kind of society and future they really want.

Now, before opening a more intensive dialogue on the future status of Kosovo, it is essential that Kosovo Albanian leaders publicly and openly say whether are they ready to recognize the right of the Serbian Orthodox Church, its holy sites and its faithful to survive in Kosovo, and preserve their identity within Kosovo society or whether they, like Avdyl Mushkolaj and others who directly work against future of their own people, think that Christian sites must be destroyed and all remaining Serbs expelled from the Province.

At the same time the serious question remains how long the citizens of Kosovo, regardless of their ethnicity, will remain hostages of the extremists who are primarily responsible for bringing shame to all Kosovo Albanians by presenting them in front of the world as destroyers of Christian churches, as arsonists and looters. Mushkolaj, who is strongly suspected of being directly responsible for three armed attacks on Decani Monastery and Italian troops guarding it (two in 2000 and one in 2004), as well as other extremists of the same orientation, who have destroyed 150 Christian sites and murdered many innocent civilians, both Serbs and Albanians, feel that they have immunity in Kosovo, and openly challenge international authorities and the Kosovo Government, thus working on the destabilization of the Province. By tolerating their activities, both the Kosovo Government and the UN Mission risks making all good efforts to put Kosovo on the track towards European future futile and unsuccessful. The best proof of this is last year's riots, directly organized by Mushkolaj and others. In just two days, 30 Christian holy sites were destroyed and 4,000 non-Albanians were expelled from their homes. So far the main organizers of the pogrom have not been brought to justice although their names and other illegal activities are well known, and they continue undermining Kosovo's stability.

Well being of Orthodox Christian sites in Kosovo and respect of human rights
and freedoms of non-Albanian population are the most evident indicator how much
progress Kosovo society has made and how much it is mature for European future

If no one among Kosovo Albanians is ready to confront this negative image of Kosovo, which is becoming more and more evident in the world media, the future of Kosovo society is really at stake because no matter what its status, with such perceptions and retrograde views the province will remain the pariah of Europe. Therefore, the problem of Mushkolaj and the part of Kosovo Albanian press which vents hatred every day, is not just a problem of Serbs but, first and foremost, of Kosovo Albanians themselves. Whether a community like Visoki Decani Monastery and other Christian sites can survive in Kosovo today with their people will be the best indicator whether Kosovo is moving in the direction of progress or not. Any attempt to paint a rosy picture of the Province while ethnic violence and discrimination continue in unimpeded will be definitely be insufficient to convince anyone in the democratic world.

In short, Kosovo cannot find its way towards prosperous future as long as criminal structures constantly wrap themselves in national flag in order to conceal their activities, and present themselves as champions of the national cause. It is exactly these individuals and groups who keep most of the people in the dark using the methods of unethical media. The fact that many do not see such a society as being mature enough for self-determination is the direct consequence of this problem, and not some sort of conspiracy against the Albanians themselves. If Kosovo Albanians had behaved in a more responsible way after the war and distanced themselves from criminal structures, the issue of Kosovo's future status would not be as problematic as it now is.

That is why the Serbian Orthodox Church, which wants to remain the part of Kosovo society and build common future with all ethnic and religious groups who live in Kosovo, is renewing its public appeal to all peace-loving Kosovo Albanians to clearly chose between the past and the future, and between hatred and tolerance. Depending how Kosovo Albanians will react to this appeal and to the appeals of the international community, which constantly call on them to improve living conditions for non-Albanian communities, the future of Kosovo will be either in the direction of Europe or towards further isolation and poverty.