Serbs Must Return to Kosovo

At the meeting in Athens entitled "Time For Changes - Time For Democracy," Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren and his Serb National Council received unanimous support from the democratic opposition, from refugee Kosovo Serbs, from NGO's and from the Serbian Royal Family.  In his final speech, Bishop Artemije once again explained why Serbs entered into the temporary international community administration in Kosovo and pointed out that the only alternative to cooperation is renewed bloodshed.  "We do not want that, and we are getting support for our policies from everywhere in the world," stated the Bishop in his interview with VREME.

VREME:  What is the present situation among Serbs in Kosovo?  There's talk about divisions into a northern region and into enclaves where Serbs are living now.  Are such divisions necessary, can they be overcome and how?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  You know, I would not call the present situation among the Serbs in Kosovo as a division among Serbs, but simply as different conditions under which Serbs are living.  There is a difference in the conditions under which Serbs are living in the north of Kosovo because of their proximity to Serbia and because of the strong influence of Belgrade on that part of Kosovo, and between the conditions under which Serbs are living in other enclaves in the central, southern and eastern parts of Kosovo.  This difference alone appears like division between us.  If you like, differences of sort do exist precisely because we are living under different conditions.  The Serbs in the northern part of Kosovo, therefore Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Leposavic, think that they do not need to cooperate with the international community, that they are self-sufficient, that they can construct themselves a bridge to Mitrovica which all demonstrates that their vision of Kosovo is Kosovo up to the Ibar River.  However, what will happen with the Serbs living in other enclaves - they have no answer to this question, and we who are living there and who have created the Serb National Council for the entire territory of Kosovo and Metohija are trying to solve all the problems of the Serbs living in Kosovo by cooperating with all Serbs.  There is a difference in points of view and approaches, especially with regard to including Serb representatives in the Serbian Provisional Government of Kosovo and the Transitional Administrative Council and the Transitional Committee of Kosovo.  We think that we have no alternative or possibility of survival in the enclaves in the central, southern and eastern parts of Kosovo to taking part in these institutions, and that is why we made this decision.  This decision was adopted in January and was confirmed in March, but it definitely came out as a decision on April 2, when our representatives began taking part and attending the sessions as observers, of course, with the right to state our problems, our demands and our needs.  There is only one alternative that remains if we do not cooperate with the international community, and that is for all Serbs to leave Kosovo, which is something I cannot accept, because I believe that as long as there are Serbs in Kosovo, it will remain Serbian and Serb ancient churches and shrines will be preserved.  If Serbs leave Kosovo, Kosovo will be lost once and for all and all the traces of our presence there throughout history will be destroyed and will crumble.  This vision is not shared by the Serbs living in the north of Kosovo.  This is something that could be perceived as division among us.  In our conclusions on adopting the decision to take part in the transition council of Kosovo we stated that our decision will not signify and must not signify any division among Serbs, but that we are continuing to live together and to solve all our problems together, while we are leaving the Serbs living in the north of Kosovo with the possibility of adopting policies that govern this segment of the Serb people in a way that they consider most productive, but also that they must accept full historical responsibility for everything which can follow from such a hard line.

VREME:  You are being accused of giving legitimacy to the international administration by becoming part of the Serbian Provisional Administrative  Council of Kosovo (PAVK).  What can Serbs do in the Transition Administrative Council?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  First of all, such accusations that we are giving legitimacy and are legalizing what took place there are gross generalizations.  They are simply not true.  Those transition councils are neither legislative, nor are they government institutions.  These bodies have more elements of advice where we have the possibility and the conditions to testify to our situation, our position and our needs, with the possibility of our voice being heard in the entire world.  Without any participation in those bodies we can simply be squeezed out of Kosovo like a sand-glass, without our voice ever being heard.  There, that is what we get with our participation, and it is certain that our decision to participate is proof of good will, keeping in mind that we did not take this step without conditions, but have made a very clear decision and said what we expect within three months from the international community in order for our participation in the government in Kosovo to change from the role or observers, to the role of regular members.

VREME:  What is the experience of Serb delegates in the PAVK?  Does the international community accept the Kosovo Serbs as partners in those bodies?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  Absolutely, there is no doubt that they also need our participation.  But not only them.  We are the ones who need it, before everyone else.  But they also need it and that is why it is possible to see a change in the international view of Serbs in Kosovo, not to say a change in their policies.  This is readiness to take on specific programs and projects which could ensure normal life for Serbs in Kosovo, as well as return for those who have been driven out of Kosovo.  I observed this change even when I was in America in February, because there we placed the foundations for joint work in realizing the program of return of Serbs to Kosovo and on Serb media in Kosovo, in order to be able to communicate with out people, in order to be able to tell them our troubles, our activities, and not to listen to interpretations from Belgrade about what we are doing in Kosovo.

VREME:  That happened in America.  You returned from Moscow two days ago.  What reaction did you get from Russian government officials?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  They were very hospitable and full of understanding for everything that we, the Serb National Council and above all the Serbian Orthodox Church are doing in Kosovo and we got full support for all our activities.  We also had many meetings with church leaders in Moscow.  We met with his Holiness Patriarch Aleksei, and we met with Metropolitaine Cyril of Smolevsk who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Church, we met with a group of statesmen in the Russian Duma, we spoke with the Deputy to Mr. Ivanov who is in charge of the contact group for Kosovo, and we met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivanov himself with whom we spoke for two full hours.  There was not a single issue relating to Kosovo that we did not discuss and comment on.  In all our meetings we met with great understanding and readiness to help in realizing projects we spoke about.  We returned from Russia very content and encouraged in continuing to fight for the good of our people.  Be set to basic objectives - one is for normal conditions of life and safety to be secured for the Serbs remaining in Kosovo, and for conditions to be created for the process of return of Serbs who were driven out of Kosovo to begin.  Therefore, not just Serbs, but also other non-Albanian communities, like Gypsies, Muslims, Turks, etc.

VREME:  After Moscow, you spoke in Athens with the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Papandreou.  What were your impressions from that meeting?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  If I could make comparisons, I would say that our presentations were met with even greater warmth here.  Above all else, it should be said that both in Moscow and here in Greece there is great interest in the development of events in Kosovo and that they are very well informed.  We met with Mr. Papandreu for one hour and he also showed great readiness to make practical efforts in improving the life of our people in Kosovo.  Above all else, this includes the opening of a radio station which they would donate; they already donated a hospital, that is to say a clinic for surgery in Gracanica for the needs of our people; they are ready to give several buses for connecting the Serbs enclaves; they are ready to accept children from Kosovo to their summer camps for children; they are ready to support the development of small enterprises where Serbs would be employed and where they could earn a living, for the development of agriculture; they also suggested the forging of brotherly ties between certain Greek cities and cities in Kosovo.  All in all, Greece, as they put it, is an open country that is open to cooperation and in a way it unites all those activities in this entire region which surrounds us, and they will be a representative or a mediator between us and the international community, because they will present our needs to other members of the European community and the UN.

VREME:  Today you spoke with the Greek Archbishop Hristodulos.  How do you feel about that discussion?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  We met with him, we also spoke with him about the problems facing us and the Greek Church reiterated its great understanding and readiness to help in everything, and the Greek Church and its people helped us very much already, not only in Kosovo during destruction, but they helped Serbs in general in early developments in Croatia, Bosnia, etc.  So that in this regard we are also very happy with our reception and we had opportunity to thank them directly for everything they did for us thus far, and, of course, for everything they will do from now hence.

VREME:  You are being met with understanding in Washington, Moscow, Athens, Brussels, therefore in all major European and world capitals.  And you are being attacked and insulted by Belgrade...

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  Prior to the conflict in Kosovo, predicting what could happen, we began communicating with the rest of the world in order to draw the world's attention to the essence of the problem in Kosovo, and we tried to find a solution to the problem of Kosovo  which would avoid the use of force.  Even then we were very well received in European countries, from England, to France, Belgium, Germany... all the way to Russia and America, and everywhere we were met with full understanding of our reasons.  We could only not be heard out in Belgrade, because we demanded audience six times with the president of Serbia, believing that Kosovo is a Serbian problem.  However, we did not get a single response to our demands, let alone being accepted.  I do not want to comment on the present attitude of Belgrade toward us.  I leave that to objective observers, but above all God and history will pass their judgments.

The international community is getting ready for elections in Kosovo.  At the same time they are offering all refugee Kosovo Serbs in Serbia to register in order to be able to vote.  However, once again it is the regime in Belgrade which is obstructing such an action...

The Serb Provision Government of Kosovo is not accepting any registration or any elections in Kosovo before the return to all Serbs who have been driven out is secured, because all cities in Kosovo which were truly multi-ethnic in the first several months since the coming of the international forces to Kosovo have been turned into national cities.  And here are examples: there are no Serbs in Pec, no Serbs in Klina, no Serbs in Istok, Djakovica, Prizren, Urosevac; there are no Serbs in Srbica, nor in Pristina where until the middle of July over 40,000 Serbs lived, and now there are only 300 elderly Serbs remaining there, unable to leave their homes.  Therefore, who is going to be registered in those cities and who is going to vote is something we simply do not want to discuss.  We tell the, you can do that without us; we cannot prevent you from registering Albanians and getting them to vote.  They mention the possibility of registering Serbs in Serbia and that they will even be able to vote there; but of what use is it for Serbs from Pristina to vote in some place in Serbia when they cannot take their places in the community of Pristina?  I heard that Belgrade, that is to say the regime there is not permitting the international community to carry out this registration in Serbia.  We say that this is a problem between you and Belgrade.  Solve it.  And those of us who are living in Kosovo, our attitude is that for as long as conditions for the return of Serbs are not created - we are not saying that every last one should return, but merely that the process begins.  It must be evident, noticeable, and not just for them to return, but that Serbs who do come back live under conditions under which living is possible.  That is what we expect from the international community as far as registration of the population and elections are concerned.  We think that accepting a registration of the population now, under conditions in which two thirds of Kosovo Serbs have been driven out of Kosovo, means precisely opening up the possibility for such a census being taken into account for determining the status of Kosovo, because the Albanians could always say, you see, according to the census, there are no Serbs in Kosovo.  You know, we cannot accept that and we wont accept it.

VREME:  There is an impression that the international community is listening with far more attention and is taking into account the opinions of Serb representatives from Kosovo than before.  Is that your impression?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  It certainly is.  This is a change which has become noticeable since January, February, for they really want to hear us out.  And before that, many diplomats, ambassadors, representatives of governments and states, whoever came to Pristina, they all wanted to meet with the representatives of Serbs also and to talk, to hear first hand reports about our situation; for they have their own sources, but they probably verify them on ground.

VREME:  It is one thing for them to want to hear, and quite another to want to do something when they hear?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  Now they are demonstrating the willingness to do something also.  Unfortunately, up to now nothing has been done, but I hope that in the coming three months which we left as a kind of ultimatum - even though we are hardly in a situation to set ultimatums - that something will be done.

VREME:  What is it that the international community could do in the next three months which could satisfy the Serb Provisional Government?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  Above all increased safety for Serbs who are already in Kosovo and the securing of basic human rights for Serbs: the right to life, right to freedom of movement, the right to work.  And the beginning of the process of return for Serbs.  This would go very, very far in satisfying us.

VREME:  You said at the meeting in Athens that there is no alternative to cooperating with the international community.  And then you added that an alternative does exist.  What alternative is that?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  There are two options: the departure of Serbs from Kosovo and new conflicts and bloodshed, new human sacrifices and tragedies.  Therefore, either cooperation or one of these two options, and we cannot accept either option which would be in the place of cooperation with the international community.  We have no one to rely on in Kosovo except the KFOR, which guarantees us and gives as a semblance of security. It should be known that without them that now there would not be a single Serb in Kosovo and not a single medieval orthodox church would still be intact.  Therefore, they still did accomplish a positive mission in Kosovo, of course, not in a real sense of protecting the Serb people there and our interests.

VREME:  Is a new conflict and new bloodshed possible?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  For as long as the present regime is in Belgrade, and as long as the same president is at the head of Yugoslavia, everything is possible.  In this regard, nothing could surprise us, not even new conflicts and bloodshed.

VREME:  You would not be surprised if Kosovo were not to remain in Serbia?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  Certainly, if any conflicts result in Kosovo or around Kosovo, or anywhere in the present Yugoslavia, that would be fatal for us in Kosovo and for Kosovo itself.

VREME:  In the past few months it has become clear that the Serbian Orthodox Church, and not political parties, is the only factor that has remained unified in Kosovo?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  When all this destruction began and the withdrawal of the Yugoslav Army from Kosovo, all government officials withdrew from Kosovo.  Those who brag about having been elected by the people have left that people hanging high and dry, have left it in Kosovo without care and protection.  But the Serbian Orthodox Church did remain with the people, as it has done for centuries when the Serb people did not have a state or any state institutions.  The Serbian Orthodox Church remained and took care of the people.  This repeated itself this time in Kosovo.  Truly, if it had not been for the clergy, for Mr. Trajkovic and several other people who were very active at the beginning, I believe that after the first wave of Serbs leaving Kosovo, under the pressure of returning Albanians, Kosovo would have been completely cleansed, so that we can say with certainty that only thanks to the activities of the Serbian Orhtodox Church, one third of the Serbs have remained in Kosovo, around 100,000 in the several enclaves where they are living now.

VREME:  The more the situation in Kosovo is stabilizing, the more frequently state officials and officials of the political parties in power in Serbia are coming to Kosovo and making attractive offers.  And they always leave behind disagreement.

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  I have no knowledge of that, that is not my impression.  Admittedly, Mr. Igic and representatives of Bozur did come to visit, and it is certain that all those who are coming as emissaries from Belgrade to Kosovo are not coming to help the Kosovo Serbs and to solve problems, but to win political points for themselves, leaving the people in disagreement.  That is how the recent events in the village of Sevce and in Gracanica can be interpreted.  However, even though the regime media reported that Artemije did this, I was not even in Gracanica on the day in question.  I am not stating this as an excuse but as a fact.  But what happened, it is certain that the people behind it have been manipulated, not to say sent or placed there by someone - but we have such things here in Kosovo also.  And it is not easy to manipulate people who have been left without anything and without any hope.

VREME:  There is an opinion that the fate of Kosovo is in the hands of Belgrade.  Is the present situation in Kosovo actually in the hands of Pristina?  There where your representatives are now.

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  Well, let me tell you, the Gracanica Monastery has become a center for solving the problems of Serbs in Kosovo and of Kosovo itself.  Why this is so is interpreted variously, but facts point to this.  If Belgrade thinks that according to Resolution 1244 Kosovo is an integral part of Yugoslavia with the sovereignty of the state remaining in tact in Kosov, we want to ask them what constitutes that sovereignty in Kosovo.  For if it does not manifest itself in any way, if government representatives are unable to do anything in Kosovo and are waiting to come to visit, it is clear that there can be no question of any sovereignty.

VREME:  When the political fate of Kosovo is decided, what kind of government should be in Belgrade?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  As far as the status of Kosovo and its future is concerned, our position has always been that we who are living in Kosovo cannot decide this issue on our own.  But we will also not permit Belgrade to make any decisions without us, as was attempted in Rambouillet and in other places where there were many representatives from Kosovo, except for the Kosovo Serbs.  We think that when the time comes for dealing with the issue of the status of Kosovo, that the same table must gather around it representatives of the international community, representatives of the governments of Yugoslavia and Serbia, representatives of the Albanians of Kosovo, abut also representatives of the Serbs of Kosovo and Metohija, and then they should all find the real solution to the future status of Kosovo around that same table.  We do not want to deal with that issue without our state, but would want our state to be a democratic state with a democratically oriented government which is open to the world to be in power when that issue comes up.  For such a government would certainly do everything for the solution to the future status of Kosovo to be far more advantageous to us then if this issue is decided by the present government in Belgrade.

VREME:  Have you noticed a change in recent months among the Albanian leaders toward the Serb problem in Kosovo?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  You can tell every tree by its fruits.  As far as the leaders of the Albanians of Kosovo are concerned, we did not notice any change in daily life, but that is why, on the one hand, we did notice that in certain statements Mr. Tachi is ready to occasionally express regret for some victims, not condemn crimes in a general way, even though he is not moving a finger to prevent any of the crimes form taking place or in finding the culprits.  On the other hand, Mr. Rugova is considered a democrat and a moderate Albanian leader, but he has become more extreme than Tachi himself in recent times, for he openly stated that he supports an independent Kosovo or a new war for Kosovo.  I think that there is fundamentally no change among them.  If there is any, it is a change in this extremism and its sharpening.  We expect that the international community will managed to convince them of the need for law and the readiness for tolerance, and if not a life together, then at least a coexistence of Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo.  In this sense, the opening of local offices in Serb enclaves as a type of self-rule is being worked on in places where Serbs are living, and in order to be able to survive there, for it is clear that in the present situation, Serbs could not survive under any kind of direct Albanian government in Kosovo.

Patriarch's Support

VREME:  Do you have the support of the Holy Sineod of the Serbian Orhodox Church as a representative of the Serbs of Kosovo?

BISHOP ARTEMIJE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN:  Everything I did thus far and am doing, I am doing with the knowledge and the blessing from his Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, who has visited Kosovo many times in the past ten months since the bombing ended, and we met and talked.  Metropolitan of Montenegro Amfilohije, especially in the initial months, spent a lot of time in Pec and Metohija where he buried Serbs.  Then the Bishop of Herzegovina Atanasije spent at lest 6-7 months in Kosovo, constantly sharing our fate with us and helping us to keep our people and to survive in Kosovo.  For everyone realizes that without Serbs in Kosovo, Kosovo cannot remain Serbian, even though it might remain within the borders of Serbia.  In this sense, I can say with a clear conscience that my work and my activities have the full support of the Serbian Orthodox Church, even though this does not mean that there are different opinions from mine in the Serbian Orthodox Church.