Enable religious communities in Kosovo to register as legal entities, say OSCE conference participants

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 30 October 2014 – Leaders and members of Islamic, Serbian Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant Evangelic, and Jewish communities in Kosovo reiterated today their call for an improved legal framework which would enable religious communities to register as legal entities, request restitution of property and regulate their finances.

The leaders met in Prishtinë/Priština at the second annual Inter-faith Dialogue conference organized by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo to promote religious and inter-ethnic tolerance and to help religious communities formulate joint stances on issues of common concern.

“Once again I commend the religious leaders for their willingness and efforts to help uphold religious and inter-ethnic tolerance in Kosovo and to work together to enhance the culture of trust and mutual respect. Their request addressed to Kosovo institutions last year to amend and improve the legal framework on freedom of religion should be treated as a priority,” said Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

Schlumberger noted that the OSCE would continue to support initiatives that promote tolerance and contribute to the improvement of the situation of religious and other communities living in Kosovo.

The conference followed a series of 20 local level inter-faith forums, two inter-faith youth camps, and the first inter-faith meeting with women.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with human and community rights protection and promotion, democratization and public safety sector development.