US embassy cable - 05VIENNA2331

UNCLAS VIENNA 002331 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SCE AND EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, SOCI, AU, YI 
SUBJECT: KOSOVO:  AUSTRIA HOSTS "FREEDOM OF RELIGION" 
SEMINAR 
 
 
1.  On July 9, EconPolCouns attended a conference on "Freedom 
of Religion and Principles of Self-Administration of 
Religious Institutions," with specific reference to Kosovo. 
Under the auspices of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, the 
University of Vienna, and the Foundation Pro Oriente, 
participants from Pristina, Belgrade, the region's religious 
groups, UNMIK, Contact Group countries, and other came 
together (see partial attendance list in para. 3).  The 
conference consisted of three parts:  one entitled "Freedom 
of Religion," one called "Safeguarding the 
Self-Administration of Reigious Institutions," and a third 
called "Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage."  Austrian Foreign 
Ministry Political Director Thomas Mayr-Harting chaired the 
discussion. 
 
2.  A chairman's paper summarized the conclusions of the 
discussion.  Key points were: 
 
--  Freedom of religion -- including the right to change 
religion and the freedom to manifest one's beliefs -- is part 
of the basic structure of a democratic social order.  It is 
therefore "an indispensible element of a modern, European and 
democratic Kosovo." 
 
--  Regulations defining religious rights must result from an 
inclusive process which involves the religious communities 
themselves. 
 
--  A society's religious and cultural heritage have close 
links.  Protection of religious institutions includes not 
only their artistic heritage, but also protection and 
promotion of the exercise of their religious functions. 
 
--  Religious communities are part of a pluralistic social 
order, and they have the right to participate in public 
debate.  Therefore, "an open dialogue between governmental 
and religious institutions ... is of particular importance." 
Participants agreed that Kosovo lacks this kind of dialogue, 
and called for a platform to provide a further debate on the 
topic of the conference. 
 
3.  Key participants from the region included: 
 
--  Bishop Artemije, Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Raska-Prizren 
--  Sabri Bajgora, Chief Imam, Islamic Community in Kosovo 
--  Rao Byyala, UNMIK Representative, PISG Ministry of Culture 
--  Enver Hasani, Head, Office of International Relations, 
Office of the Prime Minister, Kosovo 
--  Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar, Catholic Archbishop of 
Belgrade 
--  Enver Hoxhaj, Member of Parliament, Kosovo 
--  Skender Hyseni, Political Advisor to the Kosovo President 
--  Bishop Irinej, Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Backa 
--  Craig Jeness, Senior Advisor to the SRSG on Minorities 
Issues, UNMIK 
--  Damjan Krnjevic-Miskovic, Special Advisor to the Serbian 
President on Kosovo and Religion 
--  Dusan Prorokovic, Serbian Parliament 
--  Eyup Ramadani, Secretary General, Islamic Community in 
Kosovo 
--  Vajko Senic, Serbian Deputy Minister of Trade, Tourism 
and Services 
--  Bishop Mark Sopi, Catholic Bishop of Prizren 
--  Besnik Tahiri, Political Advisor to the Prime Minister, 
Kosovo 
Brown