Palalic, Parolin discuss anti-Serb violence in Kosovo-Metohija

THE VATICAN - The head of Serbia's parliamentary friendship group with Italy, the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta, MP Jovan Palalic, met with the Holy See's Secretary of State Pietro Parolin in the Vatican on Wednesday.

"Palalic and Parolin discussed the relations between Serbia and the Holy See, which they deemed very good and open, chiefly thanks to the many meetings between the highest representatives of the two countries in recent years," the National Assembly of Serbia said in a statement.

"Palalic informed Cardinal Parolin about the latest acts of physical and legal abuse committed against Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija by the government of Albin Kurti, with the ultimate goal of expelling all Serbs from the southern Serbian province and destroying the religious and cultural heritage of the Serbian people in the area where the Serbian Church and the Serbian state were created.

Palalic also thanked Secretary of State Parolin for the Holy See's consistent respect for Serbia's territorial integrity and asked him, within the framework of his international activities, to draw attention to the precedent that certain states have set by recognising the illegal secession of Kosovo-Metohija, which, especially today, could be dangerous for the entire international order.

Cardinal Parolin pointed out that the restriction of religious and civil freedoms of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija, as well as the tolerance for attacks on Serbian churches and monasteries carried out there by local authorities, is unacceptable, emphasising that the Holy See remains committed to the position of non-recognition of the false state of Kosovo and consistent respect for international law," it also said.