Excursion of the citizens of the Serbian community from the enclave of Grace and Priluzje in the Municipality of Vucitrn (Vushtrri)

27. September 2009.

The office of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Priština organized on the 27th of September an excursion for the citizens of the Serbian enclave of Grace and Prilužje.

In total, 63 persons (48 from the enclave of Grace and 15 from Prilužje) joined the excursion. The majority of the participants were female, and 60 participants were members of the Serbian community. Also two Albanians from enclaves where there exists a Serbian ethnic majority, joined the group. The participants visited Pec, the Rugovska gorge, as well as the patriarchate of Pec and the monastery of Visoki Decani , proclaimed UNESCO World Heritage Site.

At the checkpoint of the monastery complex of the church of the patriarchate of Pec, the Italian KFOR collected the personal documents of the participants of the excursion, only to state afterwards to the organization that the ethnic Albanian participants are not allowed to enter the Patriarchy without consent of the leaders of the monastery. The Serbian participants expressed their discontentment on the rigid position of the highest in rank of the monastery, but, after a while, also the Albanian participants were allowed to visit the complex unhindered.

The participants of the excursion visited the churches of the patriarchate, where they performed religious rituals. Guided by one of the monks, the participants were taught on the historical significance of the monument for the Serbian legacy.

The visit of the monastery of Visoki Decani passed off quietly. Following the usual inspection of their personal documents, the visitors entered the complex. After sight-seeing the church, one of the monks, who wished to get acquainted with the welcome guests, enriched them with the colorful history of the monastery of Visoki Decani. On command of Father Sava, the father superior of the monastery, the participants were presented dinner and some individuals were given a bottle of local wine.

Close by the monastery the group stumbled upon a returnee, Nevenka Jovicic, who told them about her experiences of returning to Decani. At the time being, she was staying in the monastery, since she hadn't been able yet to buy her house. She emphasized that she felt safe.

The majority of the participants visited Pec, the Rugovska gorge, the patriarchate of Pec, and the monastery of Decani for the very first time. For many of them, this trip was the first time they left their enclave, situated in central Kosovo, since the break out of the war in 1999. All were satisfied and showed their gratefulness for the opportunity to participate in the excursion and to visit those important milestones in their religious and cultural heritage. They asked the representatives of the Helsinki Committee for a follow-up of the program, as to visit other sites in Kosovo, such as Prizren, Bogoslavija, the Saint Archangels Monastery, Sokolica, Brezovica, Gracanica, et al.

The majority of the Serbian participants testified to turn out at the local Kosovo elections on the 15th of November:" Since we made the decision to stay in Kosovo, we should participate in the elections."

The Kosovo police was informed on the excursion, but, in contrast to visits of other groups, specifically from Belgrade, which used to visit the patriarchate of Pec, the monastery of Decani, Goraždevac, and the Serbian countryside by Pec, this excursion was realized without any police guidance.

The excursion lasted a whole day, from 8:30 till 19:30. In first instance, the participants were of a reticent attitude, but, after a while, they let go their fears. During the bus stops, they entered spontaneously the local shops, while speaking their native language - Serbian - without any negative consequences.

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