Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRISTINA862
2006-10-13 17:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pristina
Cable title:  

KOSOVO: SERB ORTHODOX BISHOP TEODOSIJE EXPRESSES

Tags:  PGOV KJUS KCRM EAID KDEM UNMIK YI 
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DE RUEHPS #0862/01 2861707
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 131707Z OCT 06
FM USOFFICE PRISTINA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6595
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0875
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHFMISS/AFSOUTH NAPLES IT
RHMFISS/CDR TF FALCON
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEPGEA/CDR650THMIGP SHAPE BE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUFOANA/USNIC PRISTINA SR
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRISTINA 000862 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL, INL, AND EUR/SCE, NSC FOR BRAUN, USUN FOR
DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2016
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCRM EAID KDEM UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: SERB ORTHODOX BISHOP TEODOSIJE EXPRESSES
CONCERN OVER POSSIBLE DELAY IN STATUS PROCESS, THANKS USG
FOR SUPPORT

REF: PRISTINA 853

Classified By: COM TINA KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRISTINA 000862

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL, INL, AND EUR/SCE, NSC FOR BRAUN, USUN FOR
DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2016
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCRM EAID KDEM UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: SERB ORTHODOX BISHOP TEODOSIJE EXPRESSES
CONCERN OVER POSSIBLE DELAY IN STATUS PROCESS, THANKS USG
FOR SUPPORT

REF: PRISTINA 853

Classified By: COM TINA KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: COM met October 12 with Bishop Teodisije,
the moderate Serb religious leader of Decani monastery, who
feared that Kosovo Serbs in the enclaves in south were not
prepared for final status. Teodosije asked that the
international community do everything possible to encourage
and enable them to stay. The Bishop expressed concern over
reports that the status process, and the accompanying
negotiations over Serb community rights and cultural
heritage, might be delayed, with consequent bad results for
both his monastery and the broader Serb population in Kosovo.
COM reassured him that the U.S. government remained
committed to the negotiation process and that UN Special
Envoy Ahtisaari's efforts continued unabated. She also made
it clear the USG wants Kosovo Serbs to stay, offering to
travel with Teodosije to Serb areas in Kosovo if he thought
it was helpful. Teodisije recognized U.S. support and was
especially grateful for recent USOP intercession on several
issues where Albanian authorities had been unresponsive to
Church concerns. "We see we are not alone," Teodosije
commented. The soft-spoken Teodosije is an asset in our
effort to encourage Kosovo Serbs to remain after status, and
we will work with him closely to reach out to Serbs in the
southern enclaves. END SUMMARY.

Enclave Serbs Uncertain, Need Support


2. (C) At an October 12 meeting, Serb Orthodox Bishop
Teodisije expressed concern that Serbs in the enclaves in
southern Kosovo were "not prepared" for final status, and
urged that the international community do everything possible
to protect them and encourage them to stay. He pointed to
the bravery of elderly Serb returnees who were injured in a
recent grenade attack in their home in Klina, but who vowed

to remain in Kosovo nonetheless. As a Kosovo Serb living in
a enclave area himself, Teodisije made clear that he and his
monks would remain, but was not sure the Kosovo government
understood the vulnerability of Serbs in these areas.


3. (C) Saying "we see we are not alone," Teodisije thanked
COM for convincing Albanian authorities in Urosevac/Ferizaj
to fund the roof repair of a Serbian Orthodox church that was
recently vandalized (reftel). He was also grateful for USOP
help in stopping Albanian construction in the area of
Gazimestan that was encroaching on the nearby Serb monument,
and for support of a water project in the vicinity of
Urosevac/Ferizaj that would benefit Serb returnees.
Teodosije made a special plea that the U.S. and international
community help avert attempts by the Decani municipality to
develop wooded areas that the Bishop said have long been
considered part of his monastery. He noted that there is not
much trust in the PISG to resolve these problems and
safeguard these areas as the common heritage of all Kosovars.



4. (C) COM reassured Teodisije that the U.S. strongly
supports a multi-ethnic Kosovo. If Teodosije thought it
would be helpful, COM noted, she would be more than willing
to accompany him on visits to Serb enclaves as a
demonstration of joint concern for the welfare of local
communities. She indicated that the Vienna negotiations had
produced good agreement on cultural heritage, including
protection zones for sites important to Serbs. The U.S., COM
said, would continue to weigh in with Kosovar authorities to
protect these sites and ensure Kosovo Serb security. After
final status, KFOR would remain and the newly established
International Civilian Office (ICO) would be there to
implement the agreement and ensure no violations of key
provisions.

Questions on Final Status Process


5. (C) Obviously concerned by media reports that the status

PRISTINA 00000862 002 OF 002


process might be delayed by weeks or months, with attendant
delays in finalizing the agreements on community rights and
cultural heritage, Teodisije asked whether these reports were
true. COM affirmed the U.S. commitment to see the status
process through to its conclusion and our strong support for
Ahtisaari's negotiation effort. Teodosije, relieved, agreed
vehemently that resolution of status and the enshrining of
minority rights in law could only be of benefit to all the
communities in Kosovo. He underscored again the faith placed
by the Church and the Serb community in the international
community as the only possible guarantors of their long-term
survival in Kosovo.


6. (C) COMMENT: The soft-spoken and highly regarded Bishop
Teodisije is a voice of reason in a church hierarchy whose
other members, at least in Kosovo, have of late unfortunately
espoused the most virulent strains of radical nationalism.
He made clear that he will remain in Kosovo, and as such can
serve as an example to other Kosovo Serbs that they can have
a future here in the post-status period. Teodosije
represents the moderating effect of his flock's key reality;
Serb communities south of the Ibar do not have the option of
secession or armed resistence. Teodosije is articulating a
reasonable set of conditions under which Serbs can remain in
Kosovo, and we will support him in the effort to bring a
message of reassurance and concern to the Serb enclaves in
the south.


7. (SBU) U.S. Office Pristina clears this cable in its
entirety for release to U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari.
KAIDANOW