Ras-Prizren Diocese (ERP) assessed recent statement of Dardan Gashi, Kosovo’s Minister for Spatial Planning (to destroy the Orthodox Church ” Holy Savior ” in Pristina) as a provocation that aims to disrupt inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations in Kosovo and Metohija, especially now during the biggest Christian holiday of Christ’s Resurrection.
Diocese notes that Gashi made false claims that unfinished church of Holy Savior, in the center of Pristina, was built illegally.
Dardan Gashi stated for one TV station in Pristina that the church “St. Nicolas” (refereeing to the church “Holy Savior “), located in the courtyard of the University of Pristina will be destroyed, because it was built without a permit. “Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Ras and Prizren has all the necessary documentation issued by the competent institution, at the time the church was built. Therefore, the statement of the Kosovo Minister can be only interpreted as an attempt of ethnic and religious discrimination,” was stated in ERP response.”
The statement further reads that in the center of Pristina was erected a large Roman Catholic cathedral, while construction of the central mosque has begun. “Discriminatory attitude towards the Serbian Orthodox Church inflicts great harm to the Minister Gashi and the institution he represents, especially because the Serbian Orthodox Church recently directly from the top of the Kosovo government informed that the government supports the completion of the temple, about which have been also notified international representatives in Kosovo and Metohija. Therefore, the statement of Minister Gashi, in the best case scenario can be seen as his personal political adventure, which is in the service of the forthcoming Kosovo elections”.
Otherwise, because of his inappropriate media statements and attempted politicization of cultural heritage issue, Minister Gashi has already blocked the work of the Mixed Commission set up to implement of protected areas, which beside him is chaired by Special Representative of the EU for the Serbian Orthodox heritage, reads the statement.
