Serbian Church Clerics Savage Vucic's Handling of Kosovo

Serbian Orthodox clerics have launched a blistering attack on the way the Serbian authorities are dealing with Kosovo issue, with one all but accusing the country's President of contemplating "high treason" by offering a compromise over Kosovo's independence.

Former Bishop of Herzegovina in Bosnia, Atanasije Jevtic, said the "little Tito" now in charge of the country - apparently referring to President Aleksandar Vucic - would "not succeed", adding that any "compromise" with Kosovo over its independence from Serbia was "high treason".

The leading Serbian Orthodox Church bishop in Montenegro Amfilohije was less direct, noting that: "Time has brought to the surface people who think they are leaders, but they do not know that the Kingdom of Heaven is the only reality of this world. But the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija have understood this, which is why they have survived".

The clerics were speaking on Tuesday night at an event on Kosovo at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Belgrade, the Danas daily newspaper reported.

Serbia's powerful Church is increasingly alarmed over the government's policy on Kosovo, evidently fearing that, under EU and US pressure, Belgrade will give in to pressure to recognise, in some form, Kosovo's independent status.

The mainly ethnic Albanian former province declared its statehood in 2008.

Serbia has vowed never to recognise this, but as the country's EU accession agenda advances, pressure is mounting on it to resolve the issue, as the bloc has made clear it will not absorb any countries with open border disputes.

The Church's governing Holy Synod urged the Belgrade authorities on May 11 to ensure Kosovo remains part of Serbia, and to refuse to agree to any territorial exchanges.

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