“The threats about the destruction of the Decani monastery and graffiti “KLA” on monastery gate are saying that it is mandatory that KFOR continue to take care about the security of the legacy of the Holy King Stefan Decanski. A positive campaign which would highlight the importance of Decani monastery for all people in Kosovo, is required. I believe that most people in Decani do not feel hatred towards the monastery. However, obviously, there are also those who don’t think anything good to us,” told abbot of Visoki Decani, Archimandrite Sava (Janjic).
According to him, for the protection of the medieval monastery, despite the presence of KFOR, are needed “additional protection measures”. Hopefully, the upcoming Brussels talks on the protection of Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo will raise existing warranties stipulated by the Kosovo legislation to the international level, strengthen them and clearly define. ”
Over the weekend ” at a local Albanian television unidentified man , who identified himself as a KLA commander , announced that the Decani will be attacked and called the television to be ready to record the destruction of the monastery,” said Archimandrite Sava.
He notes that KFOR is informed about the threats, and that he had spoken with several diplomats and representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Pristina. In the monastery, which since 1999 is almost in the Italian KFOR base was noticeable increased presence of international military forces.
Threats to the monastery, which since 2005 is on the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage, was condemned by the government’s Office for Kosovo, Citizens’ Initiative Srpska, President of CI ‘SDP’, Oliver Ivanovic (from prison). The threats were condemned also by the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, who, according to unofficial information repeatedly guaranteed the safety of the monastery.
“The situation is such that everyone should be careful. The process of preparing and establishing courts for KLA crimes as well the arrest of suspects will lead to the destabilization of situation in Kosovo. In order to calm down the Albanian public (due to the establishment of the court) it is required some kind of “shock – bomb”, as it was and the burning of the U.S. embassy in Belgrade in 2008, aimed at appeasing public opinion in Serbia, after Kosovo’s declaration of independence,” stated Rada Trajkovic, a member of the United Serbian list, in the Kosovo Assembly.
