Kosovo: Catholic bishop says high risk of radical Islam - by Cristiana Missori

Four years on from its independence, Kosovo is attempting to reaffirm its native traditions and is calling on the West for help to avoid being swallowed by the slow advance of radical Islam, which is taking advantage of tolerant traditions. The scenario is one of inter-religious dialogue that is progressing at its own slow pace, without making any fuss and seeking to keep its distance from politics, and of a moderate Islamic tradition at risk of Wahabite contagion. As Don Lush Gjergji, Vicar General of the Catholic Church in Kosovo, explained to ANSAmed, ''the issues that Kosovo has to tackle are mainly economic in nature. The true problem is the high level of unemployment affecting the population''.

Don Lush speaks about the religious tensions, but without highlighting them. ''Inter-religious dialogue is proceeding both with the Orthodox Church and with the Muslims''. As the bishop points out, just a couple of months ago he held a meeting ''with the Grand Muftì of Kosovo, Naim Ternava and the Orthodox Bishop of Raska and Prizren, Teodosije Sibalic''. Speaking of a duty to provide a good example and to extinguish any tensions between Orthodox Christians and Muslims, he said, ''it is up to the sister churches to show this Christian attitude, allowing others to be themselves. It is indeed impossible to exclude those who do not belong to our own community'', Don Lush said.

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