Abbot of Visoki Decani Monastery, Father Sava Janjic thanked on Twitter USA Ambassador in Pristina Greg Delawie for his stance “that Decani road issue was closed in 2014,” and added the rule of law is of highest importance for all in Kosovo, KIM Radio reported.
The USA Ambassador wrote on Twitter “decision from 2014 was confirmed two weeks ago and that Kosovo law says road construction in front of the Decane Monastery is illegal.” Ambassador Delawie also called for respecting the law.
Pristina-based media reported several times Decani Monastery “is preventing asphalting of existing road in Decane gorge, leading towards mountains in this municipality and a border with Montenegro, as it passes through Special Protection Zone.”
Media also reported about the statement of Decane Mayor, Bashkim Ramosaj who said “the road would be reconstructed.”
Reacting to media reports, Visoki Decani Monastery reminded that based on the Kosovo Special Protection Zones Law, it is prohibited to reconstruct transit roads through zones surrounding the most important cultural and historic monuments, including UNESCO world heritage site, Visoki Decani Monastery.
EU and OSCE representatives conducted legal analysis and concluded that the road reconstruction through this zone would be an open violation of the law. It is about prohibited activity, which does not depend upon the Monastery itself, Visoki Decani Monastery brotherhood explained, adding they support reconstruction of a road towards Plav, but outside of the boundaries of the Special Protection Zone and in line with previous decision of the Kosovo Government.
Monastery’s brotherhood also recalled Decane Municipality for two years refuses to register land confirmed as Monastery’s property as per decisions of the Supreme and Constitutional Courts in Kosovo, KIM Radio reported.
