The embassies of the QUINT States and the European Union have criticized Kosovo for rejecting the visit request of the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Porfirije, and some other priests.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo on May 13 justified the decision to reject the Serbian patriarch’s request for residence in Kosovo. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that such visits will not be allowed until “Serbia continues to violate the Brussels agreement, does not allow the visits of our state officials to Serbia and moreover does not stop with campaigns against the Republic of Kosovo in the international arena, as in the processes integrative as well as those of recognition”.
However, the EU spokesperson, Peter Stano, declared on May 14 that it is Kosovo that has violated the Agreement on official visits, reached in the dialogue for the normalization of relations, since according to him, the visit of Porfirija was announced to the Kosovo authorities, as well as required by agreement.
“By refusing him entry, the Government of Kosovo has not only violated the 2014 Agreement on official visits, but in a severe manner it has also ignored the importance that the Serbian Orthodox Church has for a part of the citizens of Kosovo and this goes against the basic principles of a multi-ethnic, tolerant and democratic society”, said Stano.
Meanwhile, through a joint statement, the embassies of the QUINT countries, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, and the EU Office in Kosovo expressed concern over the refusal of Porfirija’s visit.
“The decision of the Government of Kosovo is contrary to the articles of the Ahtisaari Plan, which clearly define the rights, privileges and immunity for the clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and it is also not in accordance with the obligations of Kosovo arising from the dialogue mediated by the EU “, it was said in the response.
QUINT said it expects the Government of Kosovo to meet the highest standards of human rights, both in its legal framework and through its actions.
