VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSQ #0289/01 0890757
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 300757Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4448
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 1642
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 1893
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 1084
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0352
RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 4965
RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA 3385
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0102
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA 4033
RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHSQ/USDAO SKOPJE MK
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2064

UNCLAS SKOPJE 000289 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, DRL/IRF, AND DRL/CRA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL KIRF MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA CHURCH DISPUTE: MOC PATRIARCH DECRIES 
SERBIAN "INTERFERENCE" 
 
REF: A. 05 SKOPJE 750 
 
     ¶B. SKOPJE 219 
     ¶C. 05 SKOPJE 1150 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC) has 
reacted strongly to recent revelations that the Serbian 
government funds an affiliate of the Serbian Orthodox Church 
(SOC) in Macedonia, calling that support an intrusion into 
Macedonia's domestic affairs.  The MOC also has opposed 
international community pressure to liberalize Macedonia's 
law on religious groups, which has been used to deny 
registration to the SOC-affiliated group.  Archbishop Stefan, 
the patriarch of the MOC, is pessimistic about chances to 
resolve the long-running dispute between the two churches in 
the short term.  End Summary. 
 
MOC OBJECTS TO SERBIAN "INTERFERENCE" 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador met with Archbishop Stefan on March 
16 at his request to discuss the case of Zoran Vraniskovski, 
a defrocked MOC bishop now recognized by the SOC as 
Archbishop Jovan of Ohrid (ref A).  Archbishop Stefan said 
that revelations that the Serbian government provides 
subsides to Vraniskovski's Orthodox Archbishopric of Ohrid, 
an eparchy of the SOC, had "further complicated" the ongoing 
dispute between the two churches about the ecclesiastical 
status of the MOC.  He predicted that the Vraniskovski case 
would remain in the spotlight despite the latter's release 
from prison in early March (ref B), given that one conviction 
for embezzlement was likely to be upheld on appeal and a 
second embezzlement trial was currently underway (ref C). 
 
¶3. (SBU) Archbishop Stefan did not repeat MOC Bishop 
Timotei's criticism of the 2005 HRR for "interfering" in the 
MOC's dispute with Vraniskovski's group.  Echoing some media 
reports, Timotei had criticized the HRR for "recognizing" 
Vraniskovski and his SOC-affiliated church.  In a March 24 
meeting with Poloff, MOC Bishop Naum apologized for Bishop 
Timotei's statement and said that Timotei was not speaking 
for Archbishop Stefan or the MOC.  (Note: In fact, the HRR 
sidestepped the issue by referring to "Zoran Vraniskovski, 
whom the Serbian Orthodox recognizes as Archbishop Jovan of 
Ohrid.")  Most press coverage, however, focused on the HRR's 
description of the GOM's treatment of Vraniskovski as a 
limitation of religious freedom, and highlighted our 
conclusion that Macedonia generally respected human rights 
despite shortcomings in the police and judicial system. 
 
STATUS OF SOC-AFFILIATED RELIGIOUS GROUP IN QUESTION 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) In response to the Ambassador's remarks on the 
importance of ensuring religious freedom for believers of all 
faiths in Macedonia, Archbishop Stefan defended the primacy 
of the MOC.  He said that other ethnic and linguistic groups 
could still establish parallel Orthodox churches and serve in 
their respective languages, but such churches must recognize 
the ecclesiastical authority of the MOC on Macedonian 
territory.  He pointed to similar restrictions in Serbia and 
other predominantly Orthodox countries as proof that this 
principle is widely respected.  "Each country much protect 
its own interests," Archbishop Stefan said, asserting that 
for Macedonia this entails protection of its national church. 
 
¶5. (U) The State Commission on Relations with Religious 
Communities is consulting with OSCE/ODIHR experts on a draft 
law that will determine the status of small religious groups, 
such as Vraniskovski's SOC-affiliated church.  The experts 
note that widespread practices in the region notwithstanding, 
Macedonia is obliged by the European Convention on Human 
Rights and its OSCE commitments to protect such religious 
groups.  In a February visit to discuss the draft law, the 
experts advised the Commission to remove a clause that would 
effectively prevent the SOC-aligned group from registering. 
(Note: The Macedonian government, by passing an Action Plan 
for European Partnership last December, has committed to 
 
implementing OSCE recommendations on the draft law.) 
 
¶6. (SBU) Backed by the MOC and other religious communities, 
however, the Macedonian government has so far resisted 
international experts' recommendations that Macedonian law be 
changed.  In an early March meeting with the DCM, Commission 
President Cane Mojanoski acknowledged "tension" between 
international standards and practice in predominantly 
Orthodox countries, but said he was unwilling to provoke a 
confrontation with the MOC on the issue.  The DCM replied 
that, although the legal changes required to meet 
international and European standards are often difficult, 
they were ultimately in Macedonia's interest as it pursues 
NATO and EU membership.  (Note: The Commission plans to 
forward the draft law to the Justice Ministry for 
consideration no later than March 30; we do not expect to see 
further action on the law before this summer's parliamentary 
elections.) 
 
NO MOC-SOC COMPROMISE IN VIEW 
----------------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) Despite a January proposal by Russian Patriarch Alexei 
to resolve the long-running dispute between the Macedonian 
and Serbian churches, there is no indication that the two 
sides are seriously negotiating.  In an interview with a 
Macedonian daily, Alexei proposed an "autonomous" status for 
the Macedonian church.  That would represent a step short of 
autocephaly, preserving the nominal authority of the SOC over 
the Macedonian church but allowing the latter to choose its 
own bishops and manage its own affairs.  The MOC roundly 
rejected that proposal.  Archbishop Stefan told the 
Ambassador on March 16 that he was not optimistic that the 
MOC and SOC would reach an agreement in the short term on the 
status of the Macedonian church, adding that the MOC and SOC 
had only limited, informal contacts.  He said he believed 
mediation by the Russian or Romanian Orthodox churches could 
be helpful in the long term. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) The dispute between the Macedonian and Serbian 
churches is likely to remain an irritant in relations between 
Skopje and Belgrade until the SOC-affiliated group's 
inability to register, the legal troubles of that group's 
leader, and the disputed claims of SOC authority over the MOC 
are resolved.  In our discussions with Macedonian government 
officials, we will continue to emphasize the importance of 
protecting the SOC's right to organize and lead its adherents 
in Macedonia.  At the same time, we will stress that no 
Orthodox church should use religious freedom guarantees as a 
pretext for attacking the legitimacy of another. 
MILOVANOVIC