Kosovo monastery seeks help from state

Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Bishop Artemije has asked for the state to help in finding a solution to the electricity problem in several monasteries in Kosovo. Monasteries of the Patriarchate of Pec, as well as Gracanica and Devic, have had their power cut off last Wednesday by KEK, the company that distributes electricity in the province. Kosovo monastery seeks help from state The company wants the SPC eparchy in charge of the monasteries to pay overdue bills and sign a contracts, but the bishop stressed that this will not happen, as it would mean "recognizing Kosovo's independence". The Ministry for Kosovo is saying that signing a contract would be the only solution, "that would not mean recognizing the independence of the southern Serb province". Artemije does not deny KEK claims, and says the eparchy has had no contacts with the company over the electricity supply issue. "We have a solution that monks had in medieval times: candles and icon lamps. There's nothing to talk about, we know what they want, what they look for – they want a contract to be signed, which is in fact a recognition of the so-called state of Kosovo," claims the church dignitary. "We do not accept that and we await for our state to do something and solve the question of electricity supply because we are citizens of this state, not some other," Artemije stated. State Secretary with the Ministry for Kosovo Oliver Ivanovic told B92 that the only way for the monasteries to be reconnected is to pay the bills and sign a contract, and that this is not tantamount to recognizing Kosovo. He added that there was no alternative solution that the government could use, and that the monasteries can only get electricity via the existing infrastructure. Ivanovic said that a contract with KEK "on a local level" would not mean a recognition of Kosovo, "but only agreement with someone who is in fact in possession of the electric installations and who can turn the electricity on and off". This official said that the same suggestion was given to all Serb municipal leaders in the province and that the same applies to the Church in Kosovo and Metohija. Meanwhile, Mother Anastasija of the monastic community in Pec said on Sunday that the monastery had electricity temporarily reconnected the day before yesterday, "until a permanent solution to the problem is found". The SPC Patriarchate of Pec, founded in the 13th century, was in 2006 placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The Gracanica monastery (FoNet)

Kosovo monastery seeks help from state

The company wants the SPC eparchy in charge of the monasteries to pay overdue bills and sign a contracts, but the bishop stressed that this will not happen, as it would mean "recognizing Kosovo's independence".

The Ministry for Kosovo is saying that signing a contract would be the only solution, "that would not mean recognizing the independence of the southern Serb province".

Artemije does not deny KEK claims, and says the eparchy has had no contacts with the company over the electricity supply issue.

"We have a solution that monks had in medieval times: candles and icon lamps. There's nothing to talk about, we know what they want, what they look for – they want a contract to be signed, which is in fact a recognition of the so-called state of Kosovo," claims the church dignitary.

"We do not accept that and we await for our state to do something and solve the question of electricity supply because we are citizens of this state, not some other," Artemije stated.

State Secretary with the Ministry for Kosovo Oliver Ivanović told B92 that the only way for the monasteries to be reconnected is to pay the bills and sign a contract, and that this is not tantamount to recognizing Kosovo.

He added that there was no alternative solution that the government could use, and that the monasteries can only get electricity via the existing infrastructure.

Ivanović said that a contract with KEK "on a local level" would not mean a recognition of Kosovo, "but only agreement with someone who is in fact in possession of the electric installations and who can turn the electricity on and off".

This official said that the same suggestion was given to all Serb municipal leaders in the province and that the same applies to the Church in Kosovo and Metohija.

Meanwhile, Mother Anastasija of the monastic community in Peć said on Sunday that the monastery had electricity temporarily reconnected the day before yesterday, "until a permanent solution to the problem is found".

The SPC Patriarchate of Peć, founded in the 13th century, was in 2006 placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.