Metropolitan Kirill: Recognition of the independence of Kosovo to incite a new conflict in the region

Metropolitan Kirill: Recognition of the independence of Kosovo to incite a new conflict in the region
Interfax - 30 March 2006, 14:52

Moscow, March 30, Interfax - The independence of Kosovo implies negative consequences for Europe for many decades and leads to new developments around the so called ‘unrecognized states’ on the post-Soviet territory, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad said.

‘I believe that if Kosovo gets independence, the consequences would be disastrous. Kosovo and Serbia will bleed constantly, and the region will retain its potential for enmity, hatred and thus for conflict’, the metropolitan said at a news conference in Interfax central office in Moscow on Thursday.

He referred to the Mid-East conflict as an example, which is an incessant source of threatening stability in the region. ‘We know about the developments in the Middle East. The region with its potential of hatred and confrontation has threatened not only human life in the region, but peace in the world for over half a century’, the metropolitan noted.

According to him, it is quite obvious that ‘an unjust solution of the Kosovo problem would bring about something similar to Europe for long decades’.

‘I agree with those who think that the independence of Kosovo would lead to new developments around the so-called ‘unrecognized states’ on the post-Soviet territory. Europe would encounter multiple problems related to the attempts of such ‘independent states’ at self-determination, Metropolitan Kirill stated.

He is convinced that it is necessary ‘to weigh the possible consequences of an action’. ‘I believe that settlement of the Kosovo problem should go together with Serbia within the framework of a single state’ a representative of the Russian Church noted.

He continued that the independence of Kosovo would have a very negative impact on the Orthodox population and the Orthodox shrines of the region. ‘Even now, in the presence of international forces in Kosovo, the shrines continue to be sacrileged, and churches and monasteries of great cultural significance destroyed’, the metropolitan underscored.

‘If this happens regardless of the presence of the armed forced that are able to protect Serbian cultural heritage and the Orthodox people, what would happen after thee forces leave the country and Kosovo becomes independent? I am afraid the consequences would be tragic’, he said.

According to the hierarch, a stable state and a stable political system are impossible to build under these circumstances.’