Serbian Ambassador to UNESCO and the country’s former ambassador to the Vatican Darko Tanaskovic say he does not believe Pope Francis will visit Kosovo.
Tanaskovic also noted that even if that were to happen, “it would not have to mean that the Vatican had recognized, or was going to recognize, Kosovo.”
The diplomat also advised those who were seriously interpreting a statement made by Kosovo President Hashim Thaci – about Pope Francis informing him he “intends to visit Kosovo and recognize the reality of the Balkans” – to look back and see “how many such statements have already been made, how many times the pope was supposedly invited to Kosovo, and how many times it was said the pope was ready to recognize the reality and will be there soon.”
“Even if under certain circumstances, which I absolutely do not believe, the pope arrived in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, which is from the international law point of view Serbian territory, that would not necessarily mean that the Vatican has recognized it (as independent),” Tanaskovic told Sputnik.
He also thinks that nothing has been lost for Serbia when it comes to Kosovo.
“Last year an attempt for Kosovo to become a full member of UNESCO was successfully prevented, but if there is no activity in that sense going forward, there is always the possibility that the situation can change,” Tanaskovic said, adding that “the geopolitical situation changes, political changes occur in some countries, affecting political decisions.”
He explained that the essence of the issue of admitting Kosovo to UNESCO has only now become “better known” to certain countries.
“There are countries that think like this: to recognize Kosovo is something that concerns a political moment, a political conjuncture, a decision (made) at a given moment, but that does not necessarily mean that this para-state will be supported in everything it does and in all of its demands,” concluded Tanaskovic.
Speaking for Tanjug on Wednesday, Apostolic Nuncio in Serbia Roman Catholic Archbishop Luciano Suriani said he had “no comment” when it comes to Thaci’s statement about Pope Francis planning to visit Kosovo.
When asked about relations between the Holy See and Serbia, Suriani noted that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic had invited the pope to visit Belgrade.
The pope wants to come, the archbishop continued, adding that it was up to the Vatican and Belgrade to decide when the visit should take place.
Suriano added that he “did not speak with representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church” about the issue of Pope Francis’ visit to Serbia.
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