CI “Srpska” condemned the announcement of Kosovo Minister for Spatial Planning, Dardan Gashi about the destruction of the temple of Christ the Savior, in Pristina. In a statement “Srpska” pointed out that “such reckless and inappropriate statements have already caused harm to the orthodox cultural heritage in Kosovo.”
“Srpska” appeals to the Minister Gashi to calm rhetoric and remind him that during the March riots were burned and destroyed 35 Orthodox churches (out of which 6 were in the first category i.e. churches from XIV, XV and XVI century).
“We want to remind the minister that from 2004 was destroyed 38 monuments and cultural premises. Let’s also recall that there is a tendency to make ‘Memorial Museum of Kosovo Albanians’ from the unfinished Temple of Christ the Savior in Pristina,” reads the statement.
“Such statements of senior officials in the Government of Kosovo are scaring the Serbs and bring back memories on March 2004, when Serbian Orthodox temples were demolished, when over 4,000 Serbs were expelled and more than 800 Serbian homes were burned.”
CI “Srpska” appeals to the international community, EULEX and KFOR to urgently respond in order to at least partially mitigate the discomfort among the Serbs in Kosovo.
“We wonder if one seeks an excuse for the desecration of the Serbian churches and whether we will ask for the permission Dardan Gashi’s Ministry to practice the religion? We also ask the international community how it is possible that it has been silent regarding this clear and obvious example of violations of religious rights in the 21st century?”
