Yesterday, the RTK reported that a round-table on relations between Patriarchate and Peja community was held.
London based NGO Soul of Europe, in cooperation with the British Embassy in Kosovo, presented a report on relations between the Pejë/Pec Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate and local community. The Pejë/Pec mayor Ali Berisha urged for the Patriarchate to be opened for visitors, saying that it is an as
set to Kosovo. The Soul of Europe coordinator stated that the NGO has been facilitating retaining of interethnic and inter-religious relations.
Also the TV Dukagjini reported about the event, please see the attached film below:
Translation (of the film)
Presentation of the report “time for Reconciliation” has gathered on a joint meeting Muslim and orthodox communities in Peje/Pec municipality.
“ Establishing of good relationship between the Patriarchate and Peje/pec Municipality bill bring positivity in economic, cultural and touristic development for all citizens of this region” said in this meeting Ali Berisha the Mayor of Peje/Pec”
The Mayor:
“All communities are already integrated into political and social life in our municipality and the Peje/Pec Patriarchate has begun to open the doors to public, to people of this municipality and wider, and to municipal institutions as well.
We have started the cooperation with Peje/Pec Patriarchate, in order to have a schedule of visits for people who wish to visit the Peje/Pec Patriarchate, since it is considered as a big asset of people of Peje/Pec and entire Kosovo.”
In this event the Ambassador of Great Britain Ian Cliff said that the communities seem to be ready to cooperate and this is a very important step.
The Ambassador:
“From today’s meeting with Muslim and orthodox community in Peje/Pec, I saw readiness of both communities for cooperation. Very little was discussed about the past, there were more discussions about the future and cooperation between citizens, institutions and Peje/Pec Patriarchate. I hope that starting from today the access of all communities to the Peje/Pec Patriarchate will be freer.”
According to British NGO “Soul of Europe” The aim of this report is to achieve easier access of people into the Peje/Pec Patriarchate.
Donald Reeves:
“We hope that by offering this report as an organization we will make an important step in creation of possibilities to establish cooperation among the communities in Peje/Pec region, especially on access of citizens to the Peje/Pec Patriarchate.”
In this meeting the participants required that Peje/Pec Patriarchate as a cultural and religious monument should be the place which can be visited by all citizens and visitors of Peje/Pec.
Daily Zëri, dedicated almost 2/3 of the page (with a photograph – see attached) an article headlined: “Patriarchate started to open its doors”.
Sub-headline: “After many years’ of isolation, even with walls, the Patriarchate of Peja has gradually started to open its doors for visitors, citizens and tourists. Kosovo government authorities and religious representatives, through British mediation, discussed on further openness of this important treasure of the Kosovo heritage”.
