Church does not intend to engage in politics
Spokesman of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Bishop of Backa Irinej said on Monday, following the meeting between SPC Patriarch Irinej and Serbia's top officials, that the Church does not intend to deliver decisions instead of the legally elected officials or engage in politics, but that it has an inalienable right to voice its stand on the most important national issues.
(kosovocompromisestuff) Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Irinej of Backa said that, at the meeting with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, the Synod got the full, objective information about the legal and foreign policy situation facing the country, especially taking into account "the ultimatum that has recently come from Brussels, to which our country has to respond."
Irinej said that the SPC presented its views on the issues related to Kosovo-Metohija (KiM), the survival of local Serb people, the status of KiM, and whether in international relations it would be treated as "a neighboring state as insisted by the West, Brussels and Washington", or there would be talks aimed at finding solutions for life and survival of people, regardless of their ethnicity, and "without prejudice to status".
"We, as the representatives of the Church, do not intend and we have never even aspired to dictate or deliver decisions instead of the state officials who were entrusted with the mandate in the elections," Irinej said.
However, the Church feels that it is its moral duty and inalienable right that, in its capacity as "the only centuries-old and steady presence in Kosovo-Metohija and in all continents" express the wish and needs of those who are at the very same time the citizens of Serbia, residents of KiM, and SPC believers, he said.
Irinej believes that it is very good and necessary in all circumstances "not only in the most difficult and fateful ones" to exchange opinions and experiences.
"However, I am dismissing as improper and malicious all the insinuations that the Church allegedly wants to engage in politics and deliver decisions instead of the legally elected officials. That does not exist either as an intention or a thought," Bishop Irinej said.
Irinej said that the SPC presented its views on the issues related to Kosovo-Metohija (KiM), the survival of local Serb people, the status of KiM, and whether in international relations it would be treated as "a neighboring state as insisted by the West, Brussels and Washington", or there would be talks aimed at finding solutions for life and survival of people, regardless of their ethnicity, and "without prejudice to status".
"We, as the representatives of the Church, do not intend and we have never even aspired to dictate or deliver decisions instead of the state officials who were entrusted with the mandate in the elections," Irinej said.
However, the Church feels that it is its moral duty and inalienable right that, in its capacity as "the only centuries-old and steady presence in Kosovo-Metohija and in all continents" express the wish and needs of those who are at the very same time the citizens of Serbia, residents of KiM, and SPC believers, he said.
Irinej believes that it is very good and necessary in all circumstances "not only in the most difficult and fateful ones" to exchange opinions and experiences.
"However, I am dismissing as improper and malicious all the insinuations that the Church allegedly wants to engage in politics and deliver decisions instead of the legally elected officials. That does not exist either as an intention or a thought," Bishop Irinej said.
