Letter of Bishop Artemije
to the Balkans Conference
INTRODUCTION
Bishop Artemije (Radosavljevic) is the Orthodox Bishop of Raska and Prizren (Kosovo and Sandjak regions).
Biography:
http://www.decani.yunet.com/artemy.html
Diocese: http://www.decani.yunet.com
For years Bishop Artemije has been making efforts to help finding the peaceful resolution of the Kosovo issue. He is well known as a courageous opponent of the regime of Mr. Milosevic and especially the nationalist extremist Mr. Seselj. Many times he was openly attacked by state media and even called a traitor. But as much as Bishop Artemije has always opposed undemocratic rule and repression in Serbia he has also openly opposed to terrorist actions of the Kosovo Albanians (UCK) as well as the current NATO intervention. In fact, Bishop Artemije has pointed out as soon as the NATO air raids started that such a strategy will only create greater humanitarian crisis and that its victims will be primarily civilians, both Albanian and Serb. The brutality of NATO intervention which is targeting more and more solely civilian and humanitarian targets reveals that the methods of Mr. Milosevic and his regime do not differ at all from the methods used by certain NATO "democratic" leaders.
The Bishop's letters and appeals were supported by many peaceloving people all over the world. With his open opposition to violence, terror and repression Bishop Artemije and the Serbian Orthodox Church have been showing that the only possible way to resolve all problems in the Balkans are the peaceful and democratic processes and not destructive bombing, ethnic cleansing and repression. As St. John the Baptist who was calling for repentence from the desert of Judea, Bishop Artemije is calling for peace, tollerance and understanding from the war ravagged desert of Kosovo.
He was one of the first Serb leaders who openly opposed to the policy of Mr. Milosevic in Kosovo. The Bishop bravely stood up against the terrorist activities of UCK which proved to be disasterous for both Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo. Although Bishop Artemije always had great respect towards the western democracies which he proved in his numerous visits to Western Europe and United States, he did not hesitate to condemn the policy of some Western war-hawks who blatantly betrayed the highest ideals of democracy both in US and Europe. In short, Bishop Artemije has always stressed that evel cannot be cured by evil. Democracy and peace cannot be imposed by bombs who kill innocent children, patients in hospitals, columns of refugees. As much as Mr. The appeals by Bishop Artemije are the call to all supporters of true humanistic and democratic ideals in the world to raise their voice against policies of some of their leaders who are pushing the world towards war and destruction.
Fr. Sava
DOCUMENTS WITH THE LATEST POSITIONS OF BISHOP ARTEMIJE REGARDING THE NATO INTERVENTION AGAINST THE SERBIAN PEOPLE:
This letter was sent to the participants of the Balkans Conference which will be organized in Bonn, Germany on May 27 by
TO THE BALKANS CONFERENCE
Bonn, Germany
May 27, 1999
VOX CLAMANTIS IN DESERTO
("the voice of one crying in the wilderness" Mat 3:3)
„We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance.
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.”
(Mat 11:17)
These words of the Holy Gospel, gentlemen, were uttered by the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, when He reproached the world and compared it with „foolish children” (Mat 11:16). But these words also reflect the present situation in which I am found, as the Bishop of Raska and Prizren and the representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church together with Mr. Momcilo Trajkovic (the Leader of the Serbian Democratic Movement in Kosovo). For years we have been travelling around the world bearing witness on the growing difficulties in Kosovo and Metohija province, its origins and immediate causes. We made constructive proposals and explained the ways how these problems could be resolved and the impending tragic catastrophe prevented in due time.
I wrote about it in greater detail in my OPEN LETTER to the political leaders of he NATO countries, especially the leaders of the United States, dated on April 9, 1999 - the Good Friday. That was the sixteenth day of the NATO aggression against our country. Today, after two months of peace sowing all over the bomb-ploughed land of Serbia, I cannot add anything to previous achievements of the bomb-intervention but only confess that its consequences have multiplied tenfold. Among the targets of the NATO air raids have been vital infrastructure facilities, urban areas, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, foreign embassies (Chinese, Swedish, Swiss, Indian...). The casualties are many, not only among the Serbs, but also among Kosovo Albanians, Romanies, Turks and other citizens of Serbia and Montenegro. Since the above mentioned casualties do not appear as legitimate military targets, the masters of war (without any official proclamation of the war) are trying to appease their conscience by calling their tragic failures collateral damage. The same euphemistic explanation was offered even when the international train, a bus full of passengers, groups of refugees (Djakovica and Korisa) or densely populated urban areas (in Aleksinac, Pristina, Surdulica) were bombed with astonishing precision and such disasterous consequences.
The self-proclaimed judges of the universe, in their haughty pride are shocked that Serbia was not defeated after the first days of bombing campaign (as it was expected). Therefore they intend to pursue their air raids until the end, i.e. until Milosevic accepts all NATO conditions, withdraws his army and police from Kosovo and brings back all refugees. It is only then, they say, that bombing will stop. Such unshakable determination means that the war will last until all Serbs and ethnic Albanians are destroyed or perhaps until the Balkans is consumed in a large-scale conflagration. Both United States and NATO are very well aware that such conditions cannot be fulfilled as long as the bombing is continued, no matter whether Miloshevich were ready to meet their requests or not.
Therefore I keep asking the leaders of the West again: Who will live enough to enjoy the peace and democracy which is being delivered to us on the wings of your tomahawks and smart bombs? Who will be able to survive living in the environment polluted by the effects of your bombs? Is this what you are doing and intend to do in future truly intended to protect Kosovo Albanians and the UCK? Is it possible that you are determined to protect them to the last one of them? Do you really intend to end the 20th century with such a bitter irony and cynicism? Is this the gate through which Europe has to enter into the third Millennium? If it is, then what we can expect from such a future? What kind of happiness, justice, prosperity and democracy we are going to enjoy? At the end of this century we must not forget the words of a prophet who said: For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). Let us think about it as long as there is time.
The Serbian Orthodox Church and our faithful people deeply regret for all what has happened in this region. As much as we feel solidarity with the suffering Serbs we also feel great compassion for innocent victims among Kosovo Albanians, many of whom were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge abroad. As many times before we firmly condemn all acts of violence no matter from which side they came from. Nevertheless, the roots of evil and violence are too deep. In this land there has been a lot of injustice, hatred, evil and crimes among the peoples who have been living here for centuries. But, to accuse and punish only one people for all evils and sufferings is undoubtedly the gravest crime, especially when an entire people is identified with certain individuals who have or could have committed indecent acts and crimes.
Should the history measure in the same way the latest mass crimes committed in the name of humanism and peace by NATO and the United States it would make the same mistake. There has to be made a clear difference between irresponsible political leaders of these countries and ordinary people who abhor the crimes of their leaderships. We know that people in these countries are manipulated and exposed to propaganda of their mass media as well as in our homeland. That is why we always make a clear distinction between NATO politicians and the peoples of NATO countries. That is what our Christian Orthodox faith is teaching us because the God - the Just Judge - will come in the ultimate times to judge the living and the dead and give unto everyone according to his works.
When humans self-willingly take upon themselves the role of judges of the universe, they make mistakes common to humans, equaling the guilty and the innocent and punishing all indiscriminately. Speaking about such people our great Prince -bishop, poet and philosopher Nyegosh said: He who has his law in a mace, his footprints reek with inhumanity. (Mountain Wreath)
As for us, we will continue bearing witness of the Truth before those who have ears to hear (Mat 11:15). Such efforts have its purpose and will finally produce fruitful results. Therefore, we shall continue to speak to the world and be in contact with those who want to hear our voice. We are also aware of great peace efforts, which some people have made to spread the truth with unshakeable hope, energy and sincerity. The best way one can choose in our times is to fight against evil with goodness.
That is all I can say now. I would not like to repeat what I have already said before and which is well known to many in the world. I would not even take this opportunity to reiterate my appeal to the mighty of this world to stop their horrendous air raids. I would only leave them alone before their own conscience and the just judgement of the Lord, no matter whether they believe in Him or not. We remain firm in our faith and hope in Gods mercy and justice. We also believe that God will show way out of this impasse, not only for our country and our people but also for the whole world and all the nations in the world, because there is, alas, too much evil and injustice everywhere.
The Bishop of Ras and Prizren,
+ ARTEMIJE
Other texts by Bishop Artemije and Fr. Sava can be found at: http://www.decani.yunet.com/kip.html
Fr. Sava
(Please share this appeal with your friends and all you know)
Decani Monastery
38322 Decani, Serbia
http://www.decani.yunet.com
tel +381 390 61543
fax +381 390 61567
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