Dispute between K. Serb monastery, authorities

Administrators at High Decani monastery have accused the municipality of Decani of illegally usurping its land and exerting pressure on its priests. In a statement, the monastery reiterates that the municipal authorities have refused to carry out the orders of UNMIK Chief Joachim Ruecker on June 3 to return a number of parcels of municipal land to the monastery. Dispute between K. Serb monastery, authorities The monastery stated that the municipality had attempted to seize its property in 1999, and that the Serbian Orthodox Church had even been erased from municipal records as the owner of the land in question. As a result, on June 3, High Decani asked to check with the municipal land office to see if the land had officially been returned, in accordance with the UNMIK decision. In response, the municipality replied that it did not recognize UNMIK’s decision. The Decani local assembly held an emergency session yesterday where it was decided not to carry out Ruecker’s orders until the matter was “settled in a competent court and a property law was passed.” In the statement, the monastery adds that it has already won several cases against the municipality in Kosovo courts. “It is especially worrying that the municipal assembly has decided to sever all contact with UNMIK, which, along with rejecting the decision of the UNMIK chief, is an open contravention of UNMIK and UN Security Council Resolution 1244,” the monastery stresses. The monastery’s administration states that such behavior is “a prelude to the heralded expulsion of the UN mission in Kosovo prior to the Kosovo constitution coming into force on June 15.” The monastery brotherhood states that it is especially concerned about threats coming from Kosovo Liberation Army veterans, reiterating that the monastery came under heavy arms fire on four occasions in 1999. Bishop Teodosije of the monastery sent a letter to UNMK yesterday asking the UN mission to “stand up in the defense of the rule of law and insist on implementation of the decision regarding the monastery’s property.” Teodosije added that he would also be informing UN headquarters in New York of the situation.

Dispute between K. Serb monastery, authorities

The monastery stated that the municipality had attempted to seize its property in 1999, and that the Serbian Orthodox Church had even been erased from municipal records as the owner of the land in question.

As a result, on June 3, High Dečani asked to check with the municipal land office to see if the land had officially been returned, in accordance with the UNMIK decision.

In response, the municipality replied that it did not recognize UNMIK’s decision.

The Dečani local assembly held an emergency session yesterday where it was decided not to carry out Ruecker’s orders until the matter was “settled in a competent court and a property law was passed.”

In the statement, the monastery adds that it has already won several cases against the municipality in Kosovo courts.

“It is especially worrying that the municipal assembly has decided to sever all contact with UNMIK, which, along with rejecting the decision of the UNMIK chief, is an open contravention of UNMIK and UN Security Council Resolution 1244,” the monastery stresses.

The monastery’s administration states that such behavior is “a prelude to the heralded expulsion of the UN mission in Kosovo prior to the Kosovo constitution coming into force on June 15.”

The monastery brotherhood states that it is especially concerned about threats coming from Kosovo Liberation Army veterans, reiterating that the monastery came under heavy arms fire on four occasions in 1999.

Bishop Teodosije of the monastery sent a letter to UNMK yesterday asking the UN mission to “stand up in the defense of the rule of law and insist on implementation of the decision regarding the monastery’s property.”

Teodosije added that he would also be informing UN headquarters in New York of the situation.