Djuric: Accusations against Serbian Orthodox Church deeply concerning

WASHINGTON - Serbian Ambassador to the US Marko Djuric has expressed concern over the spread of "baseless accusations" made against the Serbian Orthodox Church by British MP Alicia Kearns.

"It is deeply concerning to witness the spread of such baseless accusations, especially considering the potential consequences they can have on the delicate balance in Kosovo*," Djuric wrote in a post on his official Twitter account.

He noted that Kearns's accusations that the Serbian Orthodox Church was involved in weapons smuggling from central Serbia to Kosovo-Metohija had been immediately refuted by Kfor.

"Their unequivocal denial of these allegations should be regarded as the authoritative position on this issue. As a mission dedicated to maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region, their statement carries significant weight," Djuric said.

"With that in mind, we must remember the events of the March pogrom in 2004, where similar false accusations led to the destruction and desecration of Serbian cultural and religious sites – 35 churches and monasteries, among them even UNESCO World Heritage sites – and ethnic cleansing of Serb-populated towns and villages, causing considerable harm and exacerbating tensions. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Furthermore, I want to also address the allusion made by Albin Kurti, which insinuates the possibility of these claims being true. It is irresponsible to make such insinuations without concrete evidence, especially considering the lack of credibility in the allegations and the denial by NATO/KFOR," Djuric added.