Serbian Patriarch Porfiry said that despite the ban on entry into Kosovo and Metohija, he will not abandon his flock and Kosovo Serbs.
His speech is quoted by the Serbian media, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“I will still be in Kosovo and Metohija with them, despite the bans. The Pécs Patriarchate is for us like the Vatican for the Catholic Church. Imagine that someone, without any reason, forbade the Pope from entering the Vatican with a comical explanation. The whole world would rise,” Patriarch Porfiry said on December 27.
Let us recall that earlier the authorities of the self-proclaimed “Republic of Kosovo” prohibited Patriarch Porfiry from entering the territory of the region, who intended to visit the Pec Patriarchate in Kosovo, that is, the monastery of which he is the rector by status.
“I personally asked both the president and the entire government to do everything to maintain peace so that it does not lead to an armed conflict. At the same time, I call on the authorities in Pristina and the great powers, important institutions and centers of power, so that they do everything possible to preserve peace, and so that human lives remain the highest interest,” said the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
“It is undeniable that we can understand each other better through our efforts. For centuries, Serbs and Albanians lived together in Kosovo and Metohija. Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija have lived for 15 centuries, together with Albanians - 5 centuries. If there is good will, we can find a way to live together,” concluded the Serbian Patriarch.
In turn, on the same day, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accused the West of being a co-organizer of the ban on the entry of the Serbian Patriarch into Kosovo and Metohija. According to the Serbian leader, from the statements of Western politicians and the media it could be concluded that the Serbs are guilty of having the Serbian Orthodox Church, and that the Patriarch wanted to visit the shrine.
“This is an incredible shame. It is important to see how our people and our country are treated by those who make decisions in the West. You saw that in their statements they talk about freedom of movement - this is more important than banning the head of the SOC from entering Kosovo and Metohija. Why do some people hysterically insist on demolishing the barricades? Because he wants to expel the Serbs,” Vucic emphasized.
He also noted that because of the conflict in Ukraine, there is no doubt that they “want to crush and crush Serbia” and will continue to do so.
“I’m not sure that we will be able to overcome this, because we are talking to those who do not want to hear any argument,” said the Serbian President.
Also on December 27, Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Bocan-Harchenko called the situation in Kosovo and Metohija “very dangerous, tense and on the verge of wider conflicts.” The Russian diplomat emphasized that “the firm position of the President of Serbia, the Minister of Defense, and the increased level of readiness of the armed forces are absolutely consistent with the situation on the ground.”
Как reported “PolitNavigator”, on December 26, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Serbian Patriarch Porfiry and discussed the situation in Kosovo and Metohija. According to unofficial information, the Serbian leader requested the blessing of the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church to protect the Serbian people in the region.