Italian General Iubini, who saved the Pec Patriarchate: Return the monument to where it was, allow the souls of Serbian soldiers to rest in peace

Italian retired Brigadier General Raffaele Iubini, who led the Italian KFOR contingent and played a crucial role in saving the Pec Patriarchate, Budisavci Monastery, and the church in Bica near Klina during the March Pogrom, expressed his deep sadness regarding the relocation of memorial plaques dedicated to Serbian soldiers from the Balkan Wars and World War I at the cemetery in Pristina. He stated that the monument must be returned to its original location to allow the souls of the Serbian soldiers to rest in peace.

"I am truly sorry for what is happening in Pristina. I respect all soldiers who fell for their homeland, regardless of the nation they belonged to. Their souls are now in heaven, and they must be allowed to rest there without anyone disturbing them. I am convinced that the memorial plaque should be returned to its place," General Iubini said for Kosovo Online.

General Iubini says that it is a tragedy when people have to leave their homeland, noting that today, the Serbs in Kosovo are facing such adversity.

"The Serbs today are a people in Kosovo experiencing a tragedy," the general added.

Brigadier General Rafaele Iubini led the Italian contingent of soldiers within KFOR and served as the commander of the Italian Brigade "Folgore," the 183rd Paratrooper Regiment as part of KFOR.

His soldiers managed to preserve the Pec Patriarchate, as well as the Budisavci Monastery and Bica Church in the municipality of Klina.

In recognition of these merits, the Serbian Orthodox Church honored general Iubinis unit with the highest church decoration – the Order of Saint Sava, for their contribution to protecting Serbian monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija.

When asked about supporting the petition initiated by a group of intellectuals for the return of the memorial commemorating Serbian warriors from World War I, General Iubini mentioned that he, as a soldier, had never engaged in such actions.

"I do not have the habit of signing petitions. I have never done that in my life. However, I feel very close to the Serbian people, whom I respect, and I understand the time of great pain they are going through," General Iubini stated.