“I am sad to see the slanderous attacks on Father Sava,” USA Ambassador in Pristina, Greg Delawie wrote on his Twitter profile, KoSSev portal reported.
This message came after headlines appeared in the Kosovo media linking Abbot of Visoki Decani Monastery Sava Janjic with Zeljko Raznatovic Arkan in Pristina, with video recording showing Arkan, but not with Father Sava Janjic.
One day prior to the visit of diplomats to Decane, RTS published a text in which it said that the Abbot of Visoki Decani sent a letter to the diplomatic corps in Pristina with the alleged request “to cease the works” on constructing Decane-Plav road, KoSSev portal added.
“It is known that Serbian Church has great influence on Serbian politics. This is not the first time that Serbian structures, both political and religious ones, impede capital projects. It is surprising how foreign diplomats responded to the letter of priest Janjic, since this is a project connecting people with each other and impacting economic and social development of the both countries, Kosovo and Montenegro,” this is how the public service RTK reported.
KoSSev portal continued the works were not interrupted, while a delegation of European countries’ ambassadors headed by EU Office Chief in Kosovo, Natalya Apostolova visited the site and the Monastery of Visoki Decani.
As Kosovo Ministry for Infrastructure announced, the delegation together with the Minister Pal Lekaj visited the site upon his invitation.
Apostolova sent a message about the need to respect the Kosovo Law on Special Protection Zone, where the Monastery is located and is under UNESCO protection.
“Implementation of the Law on Special Protection Zones is an imperative for Kosovo to demonstrate respect for the rule of law and its international commitments; any action in the Decane Monastery Zone must be in line with the Law,” Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Jan Braathu said, as quoted by Apostolova.
Ambassadors of Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Greece, Slovakia and Finland were also part of the delegation.
Abbot Sava Janjic also provided details of the visit.
“Head of the EU Office in Kosovo Natalya Apostolova together with several EU ambassadors and diplomats visited today the road around Visoki Decani Monastery where the Kosovo Government announced reconstruction on an international road toward Montenegro. Madam Apostolova and Head of OSCE Mission Jan Braathu explained that the Kosovo Law on Special Protection Zones is clear, it has to be respected and magistral road cannot be reconstructed in protected zones, particular not around UNESCO world heritage site. Kosovo Minister of Infrastructure Pal Lekaj confirmed in front of number of journalists there would be no road reconstruction toward Plav through protected zone around Visoki Decani Monastery. May it be so,” Abbot Sava Janjic said.
