European Church Leaders Urge Respect for Human Rights and Minorities in Kosovo

(19 Feb 08 - RV ) Serbia's foreign minister urged members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation to condemn Kosovo's declaration of independence today and vowed that the nascent nation would remain a part of Serbia, amid escalating violence on the nations border.


Slovenian Prime Minister and President of the European Council, Janez Jansa, delivered today to Church leaders from Europe, today told Church leaders from Europe that if there is any region in Europe where inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogue is needed, it is the Western Balkans.


The group led by Mgr Noel Treanor, Secretary General of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, stressed the need to ensure that human rights are fully implemented in Kosovo and in the region, especially for minorities. This they said includes the protection and free access of holy sites and sites of worship.


Other issues on the agenda included the European integration process, in particular the debate around the Lisbon Reform Treaty. We spoke to Msgr Trainer immediatley after the meeting