The Serbian monasteries in Kosovo-Metohija were listed among the five most important holy sites of the Mediterranean along with Jerusalem, Mt. Athos, Mecca and Vatican, reads Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti on Friday.

The decision on importance of the Serbian monasteries in Kosovo-Metohija was rendered at an EU meeting in Brussels attended by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, the daily said.

Barroso underlined the need for special protection of the Serbian holy places in Kosovo, adding the monasteries should be a source of inter-cultural dialogue, rather than conflict.

Upon completion of an analysis and an accompanying study, an international declaration will be adopted to proscribe the level of protection of the Serbian holy sites in Kosovo-Metohija, the daily said.

“I insisted on the difference between legal protection of sites which have a friendly environment such as Mt. Athos, Vatican and Mecca, unlike those which are in potential danger, such as Jerusalem and Kosovo”, said professor of the Faculty of Law of the University of Belgrade Sima Avramovic, who took part in the Brussels meeting.

Avramovic stated that it is a major success that the Serbian holies in Kosovo-Metohija will have the same treatment as Jerusalem, and thus gain an additional guarantee for the preservation of the Serbian identity in the area.