Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05VIENNA2331
2005-07-11 15:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

KOSOVO: AUSTRIA HOSTS "FREEDOM OF RELIGION"

Tags:  PGOV PREL SOCI AU YI 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

111513Z Jul 05
UNCLAS VIENNA 002331 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/SCE AND EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI AU YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: AUSTRIA HOSTS "FREEDOM OF RELIGION"
SEMINAR


UNCLAS VIENNA 002331

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/SCE AND EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI AU YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: AUSTRIA HOSTS "FREEDOM OF RELIGION"
SEMINAR



1. On July 9, EconPolCouns attended a conference on "Freedom
of Religion and Principles of Self-Administration of
Religious Institutions," with specific reference to Kosovo.
Under the auspices of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, the
University of Vienna, and the Foundation Pro Oriente,
participants from Pristina, Belgrade, the region's religious
groups, UNMIK, Contact Group countries, and other came
together (see partial attendance list in para. 3). The
conference consisted of three parts: one entitled "Freedom
of Religion," one called "Safeguarding the
Self-Administration of Reigious Institutions," and a third
called "Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage." Austrian Foreign
Ministry Political Director Thomas Mayr-Harting chaired the
discussion.


2. A chairman's paper summarized the conclusions of the
discussion. Key points were:

-- Freedom of religion -- including the right to change
religion and the freedom to manifest one's beliefs -- is part
of the basic structure of a democratic social order. It is
therefore "an indispensible element of a modern, European and
democratic Kosovo."

-- Regulations defining religious rights must result from an
inclusive process which involves the religious communities
themselves.

-- A society's religious and cultural heritage have close
links. Protection of religious institutions includes not
only their artistic heritage, but also protection and
promotion of the exercise of their religious functions.

-- Religious communities are part of a pluralistic social
order, and they have the right to participate in public
debate. Therefore, "an open dialogue between governmental
and religious institutions ... is of particular importance."
Participants agreed that Kosovo lacks this kind of dialogue,
and called for a platform to provide a further debate on the
topic of the conference.


3. Key participants from the region included:

-- Bishop Artemije, Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Raska-Prizren
-- Sabri Bajgora, Chief Imam, Islamic Community in Kosovo
-- Rao Byyala, UNMIK Representative, PISG Ministry of Culture
-- Enver Hasani, Head, Office of International Relations,
Office of the Prime Minister, Kosovo
-- Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar, Catholic Archbishop of
Belgrade
-- Enver Hoxhaj, Member of Parliament, Kosovo
-- Skender Hyseni, Political Advisor to the Kosovo President
-- Bishop Irinej, Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Backa
-- Craig Jeness, Senior Advisor to the SRSG on Minorities
Issues, UNMIK
-- Damjan Krnjevic-Miskovic, Special Advisor to the Serbian
President on Kosovo and Religion
-- Dusan Prorokovic, Serbian Parliament
-- Eyup Ramadani, Secretary General, Islamic Community in
Kosovo
-- Vajko Senic, Serbian Deputy Minister of Trade, Tourism
and Services
-- Bishop Mark Sopi, Catholic Bishop of Prizren
-- Besnik Tahiri, Political Advisor to the Prime Minister,
Kosovo
Brown