The OHR has been informed that the construction of a church in Budak/Dugo Polje in the municipality of Srebrenica resumed today.
High Representative Valentin Inzko is deeply disturbed by this development.
“I wholeheartedly support the right to worship and have personally helped the construction of churches for Orthodox believers, in both spiritual and practical terms. However, in this instance the opposition to the construction of the church at this particular location is completely understandable”, the High Representative said.
Recognizing the positive role that the religious communities can and must play in supporting peaceful coexistence and mutual respect in Srebrenica, the High Representative expects the Orthodox Church to proactively work with the competent authorities to move the church away from both the recently exhumed mass grave and from the Potocari Cemetery and closer to the Orthodox community in Dugo Polje. In so doing, the Orthodox Church would send the clearest possible signal to the wider public that it is ready to play a proactive role to rebuild trust, tolerance and understanding in Srebrenica in the interests of all of those who live there.
“As a ktitor of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Belgrade, I believe that even at this late hour the Orthodox Church must show the leadership we all expect by taking a decision to halt construction and change its location”, the High Representative said.