VZCZCXRO2862
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBW #0248/01 0431705
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121703Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0792
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000248 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PGOV PREL SR KV
SUBJECT: SERBIA: PATRIARCH TELLS AMBASSADOR HE WANTS TO "REINTRODUCE" 
SERBIA TO EUROPE 
 
REF: BELGRADE 130; PRISTINA 73 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) During a courtesy call with Ambassador Warlick on February 
12, Patriarch Irinej assessed the current state of the Serbian 
Orthodox Church (SOC), expressed a desire to "reintroduce" Serbia to 
Europe and the United States, and touched on the future of Church 
relations with the Vatican and the Orthodox communities in Macedonia 
and Montenegro.  He stressed the importance of Kosovo and asked for 
U.S. understanding, while downplaying concerns that the removal of 
Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren could trigger unrest.  The 
Patriarch delivered a measured and moderate message that confirmed 
initial impressions that he will be a willing and reasonable 
interlocutor as the Church fleshes out its role in Serbian society 
under his leadership.  End Summary. 
 
State of the Church 
------------------- 
 
¶2.      (SBU) In response to the Ambassador's congratulations on his 
recent election (Ref A), Patriarch Irinej, joined by Metropolitan 
Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Coastlands, agreed that he had 
assumed a tremendous responsibility as head of the SOC.  He pointed 
out, however, that the strength of the Church was its history, its 
constitution and doctrine, and its way of life.  Because decisions of 
great importance were taken jointly by the Sabor, or Holy Assembly of 
Bishops, the burden of leadership was shared.  This means that there 
was little room for "great oscillations" in the course of the Church, 
he said. 
 
¶3.    (SBU) The Patriarch also expressed satisfaction that the people 
were returning to the Church "spontaneously" as the effects of years 
under Communist rule waned.  Emphasizing his vision of "unity of the 
people and the Church," Irinej explained that the SOC always had been 
close to the people.  In practice, this meant that although the 
Church might have its own views on political and social issues, it 
also had a responsibility to listen to the people. 
 
Reintroducing Serbia to the World 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) When asked by the Ambassador about his thoughts regarding 
Serbia's efforts to move toward the European Union, the Patriarch 
repeated his recent public statements that Serbia belonged to the 
"family of European values."  Quoting SOC founder and its first 
Archbishop, Saint Sava, who said that Serbia was "the east of the 
West and the west of the East," Patriarch Irinej underlined that 
there was a rich history of "give and take" between Serbia and 
Europe. 
 
¶5.    (SBU) The Patriarch then expressed his personal opinion that 
there was a great need for a "different picture" of Serbia to be 
presented to the world, alluding to Serbia's recent history in the 
1990s.  Mentioning that he had travelled many times to the United 
States, the Patriarch told the Ambassador that he felt that there is 
a new opportunity to strengthen relations - between governments, 
people, and churches- with Europe and the United States.  The 
Ambassador responded that we and the Serb Diaspora in the U.S. surely 
would welcome any further visits. 
 
Relations with the Vatican and Orthodox Communities 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Turning to relations with the Catholic Church and with 
Orthodox communities in neighboring states, Patriarch Irinej 
expressed a strong preference for dialogue in an effort to overcome 
existing divides and differences of opinion; he made it clear, 
however, that this openness did not extend to the Montenegrin 
Orthodox Church.  He told the Ambassador that "we historically are 
closest to the Catholic Church" and that there needed to be a 
"sincere meeting" as a first step toward reconciliation.  Although he 
agreed that the 1700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan, the letter 
signed by Emperors Constantine I (born in Nis) and Licinius that 
proclaimed religious tolerance in the Roman Empire, might be a 
propitious occasion for a visit by Pope Benedict XVI, Patriarch 
Irinej stressed that "I am not a Pope" and therefore it would be up 
to the Sabor to take such a decision. 
 
¶7.    (SBU) Patriarch Irinej also stated that "we will do everything 
we can" to fulfill our "desire" to overcome problems with the 
Macedonian Orthodox Church. However, he was categorical in his 
 
BELGRADE 00000248  002 OF 002 
 
 
opposition to engagement with the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, which 
"has no doctrinal basis" for existing.  Patriarch Irinej explained 
that the SOC "cherishes its unity" embodied by its representative in 
Montenegro, Metropolitan Amfilohije, who in turn called the 
Montenegrin Orthodox Church a "sect" that was based on politics and 
ideology instead of religion. 
 
Kosovo: "Our Washington" 
------------------------ 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Perhaps tailoring his message to the audience, Metropolitan 
Amfilohija opted not to repeat his mantra that Kosovo was Serbia's 
Jerusalem, asserting instead that "Kosovo is our Washington" and 
eliciting chuckles from all present.  The Patriarch added that Serbia 
without Kosovo was like a "body without a head."  He told the 
Ambassador that Serbia expected the United States, as a free, 
democratic, and law-based country, to facilitate a just solution for 
Kosovo.  He appealed to the Ambassador to be "the interpreter of our 
best wishes."  In response, the Ambassador stressed our commitment to 
freedom of movement for religious figures in Kosovo and offered 
assistance in coordination with Pristina to ensure that the 
Patriarch's planned April 25 ceremonial enthronement in the Pec 
Patriarchate proceeded smoothly. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) The Ambassador also inquired about reports that the Holy 
Synod (Church government) of the SOC had directed an investigation 
into the finances of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren, headed by 
Bishop Artemije and temporarily located in Gracanica (Ref B). (The 
Holy Synod met on February 11 to discuss taking measures against 
Bishop Artemije and his assistant Simeon.  Presidential adviser for 
Kosovo and the SOC Mladjan Djordjevic told us on February 11 that the 
Synod would appoint a caretaker to administer the diocese until the 
May 2010 Sabor.  MFA Advisor Damjan Krnjevic Miskovic separately said 
on February 11 that the Synod would choose Bishop Joanikije of 
Budimlje and Niksic as the temporary administrator.) 
 
¶10.     (SBU) The Patriarch told the Ambassador that the 
investigation into Artemije was ongoing but that he was confident 
that a solution could be found "within the Church."  When asked about 
concerns expressed by Djordjevic that enforcing the decision to 
suspend Artemije might result in problems, and even unrest, given his 
support by hard-line Serb elements in Kosovo, the Patriarch replied 
that "there was no reason yet" for unrest since a decision had not 
been taken.  "We will obey the rules and this [decision] will not be 
catastrophic," reassured the Patriarch. 
 
Confronting Nationalism 
----------------------- 
 
¶11.    (SBU) Questioned about the presence of copies of the 
right-wing nationalist magazine "Dveri Srpske" in a number of 
Belgrade churches (recent cover stories included denial of Srebrenica 
and characterization of the 1999 NATO air campaign as genocide), the 
Patriarch first responded that "this was the result of democracy," 
ostensibly referring to freedom of speech.  However, when pressed by 
the Ambassador on the broader topic of confronting nationalism, 
Irinej dodged the question, stressing that the Orthodox religion was 
not only for Serbs and that other nationalities should also feel 
welcome.  He also explained that the Church, which "has to be above 
nations," wanted its people to "love their nation but also not hate 
others." 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶12.  (SBU) In his first meeting with the Ambassador, Patriarch Irinej 
demonstrated many of the traits that made him the compromise 
candidate to succeed Patriarch Pavle.  He was a careful but engaging 
interlocutor who emphasized dialogue and genuinely seemed to 
recognize the opportunity that his election provided for a Church 
that needed to recalibrate its mission.  Although some of his early 
public statements suggest that he still is finding his way amidst the 
tremendous responsibility of leading the SOC, his willingness to take 
on controversial issues such as reconciliation with the Vatican and 
sanctioning Bishop Artemije bode well for the future.  End Comment. 
WARLICK