Patriarch Porfirije: Universal human rights cannot be a part of status negotiations

Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church stated that universal human rights, such as the right to life, freedom of movement, and property, guaranteed by international acts, could not be subjected to status negotiations.

Speaking at the conference "Kosovo and Metohija, History and Cultural Heritage" held at the Theological Faculty, he emphasized that the Serbian Orthodox Church could not be a part of negotiations on the status of Kosovo, as the issue of the SOC was considered one of the most complex issues in the negotiations.

He reminded that the SOC had been present in Kosovo for centuries and had more than 1,300 churches, which, as he noted, was more than eight churches per square kilometer.

The Patriarch recalled that 25 years had passed since the bombing and 20 years since the March Pogrom, stressing that discussions about destroyed churches and the suffering of the Serbs continued and should continue.

He emphasized that the international community was obliged to ensure respect for basic human rights.

Bishop Teodosije of Raska and Prizren stated that the SOC in Kosovo was currently going through the most challenging historical period of its existence but that the people and the monastic community remained in the territory imbued with the spiritual essence of the Serbs.

He reminded of the suffering of the Serbs today but also of their readiness to remain in their centuries-old homes.

Bishop Irinej of Backa emphasized the importance of remembering the Kosovo Covenant.

"If we forget our holy sites, we will forget ourselves," Bishop Irinej conveyed.