Patriarch Porfirije calls on UN and EU to protect religious freedom

Patriarch Porfirije. Photo: spc.rs

Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church urged the international community, particularly the UN and the European Union, to protect religious freedom and the rights of believers.

In his speech at the opening of the conference "Kosovo and Metohija - History and Cultural Heritage," held in Belgrade, Patriarch Porfirije noted that "the issue of the legal position of the Serbian Orthodox Church is the 'most complex political issue' in the negotiations on Kosovo and Metohija."

"After eight centuries of continuous presence in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, the Serbian Orthodox Church cannot be a participant in any political negotiations and agreements on the status of Kosovo and Metohija," said the Patriarch.

He emphasized that "respect and protection of human rights, notably religious rights, represent a universal civilization value since these rights belong to everyone and must be guaranteed to the Serbian Church and its believers."

"Thus, universal human rights and religious freedoms cannot be part of negotiations on status and political agreements; they are implied and guaranteed by international legal acts," Patriarch Porfirije reminded.

He called on "the international community, embodied in the United Nations and the European Union, to ensure full respect for all human rights and religious rights in Kosovo and Metohija."

Earlier, the UOJ reported that according to Patriarch Porfirije, the actions of the authorities in Ukraine towards the UOC are lawlessness.

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