While visiting Moscow, Patriarch Irinej of Serbia rejected categorically any idea that would lead to the final split of Kosovo from Serbia.
“The division of Kosovo and the new borders, supported by some, are not an acceptable solution for the Serbian Orthodox Church and the majority of the population. Serbia without Kosovo will not be Serbia,” Irinej said in an interview with the Russian news agency “RIA Novosti”, according to ANA-MPA.
“When you take out the heart, the human being ceases to exist,” said the Serbian Patriarch and he pointed out that the position of the Serbian Orthodox Church on the final settlement of the Kosovo issue should be based on the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 adopted in 1999.
“The position of the Serbian Church is to fully implement the UN Resolution 1244, which provides that the Albanian population must be guaranteed full freedom and autonomy, but Kosovo, on a territorial basis, remains within the territory of Serbia,” Patriarch Irinej underlined.
It is noted that the Serbian Orthodox Church supported the maintenance of the “frozen conflict” status on the issue of Kosovo, hoping that in the future there would be more favorable conditions at international level that would allow Serbia to defend its sovereign rights in the region. Patriarch Irinej has repeatedly expressed the view that “if Belgrade recognizes Kosovo, then this area will be lost forever for Serbia.”