Excerpts from interview of His Holiness Patriarch Ireneious of Serbia  given to the Vijesti daily newspaper

"Diaspora is part of our church no matter where our people live. Our church in the past always followed its people and was with him, so it makes the later time. One of the great concern of our Church is to meet the spiritual needs of his people in scattering. It has sent priests and bishops to maintain links, active and live with our diaspora. We'll do everything that our people do not forget their origins and to preserve their language as an essential element of nationality. For the first, which is loses, I know it well, losing the language, and probably a lot lot more. "
"That's why we urge our churches and our people to keep and cherish our language. Our people are intelligent and will not be a problem in addition to the language environment in which he lives, and his own. As regards the Church, we will do everything, what we can do, that in obligation meet a sublime task".

For the Serbian Republic and the Federation of BH-says:
"I believe that the Republic of Serbian lead intellectual and  smart people. And that in this tumult find the best way that suits our people, and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I believe that will solve the problems in a mutually acceptable way, and useful for our people and all the nations that live there. "

About schismatic fraction in FYROM says:
"The doors of our Church are open to our brothers from FYROMacedonia. We would be glad that with joy find a way to again come in a community of grace and one people in the Church of Christ with their full autonomy. That we truly have the Liturgical contact above all. Our doors are open for those conversations, but now the problems and difficulties are biger than they were before. But there is no problem that can not be resolved with mutual goodwill. Solution can be found on this really painful wound of our Church. "

The situation in Croatia:
"Unfortunately, with that the local people in Croatia for centuries our nation has problems that will continue. There is our people suffered in the most recent and the recent past. Unfortunately, as these appetites recently got a new scale, either for prozelitizm, either for disabling of life of our people in Croatia. "
"We hope that the new government in Croatia will be more democratic and that for this problem will find time and ways to overcome. Also to establish a human, democratic, and ultimately, one Christian and the Christian way of contact and context of our nation brothers with the Croats, because we have a Gospel as the basis of our faith. And based on the Gospel we find the best solution for living.

The situation in Montenegro:
''..... division which took place between Montenegro and Serbia is a foolish and unreasonable thing. We are one and the same people, as much denied. Even in this difficult time for our nation, instead that we approached to each other, there was a divide that can not be justified by anything. Will they see it? I do not know. Probably that there are a few powerful people who lead and manage and maybe it depends on them.

I can not understand that the Montenegrin  do not recognize the Serbian root as his origin, as same people. And we are here in Serbia call our self  Serbs of Šumadia,of Bosnia,of Vojvodina ... but our  roots are in one people, Serbian people. "

Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija:
"Unfortunately, Kosovo in the latest situation occurred in the hardest position and in the most difficult situation that has ever existed. So much suffering, so much tormenting and so much destruction of those who live there, in history that people did not remember. The tragedy is that the great powers know the truth, but they pretend and act that they do not see it, and they stood on the side of those who persecute us for fully 100 years from
Kosovo and Metochia. People is unable to resist, they flee and became smaller and smaller. And those who would return do not have any security. How is it possible, when there is such a state that those who live there in their homes on their small farms are not sure were they will come back alive if they are away from home. The tragedy of the people is the biggest tragedy in modern world. "

MESSAGE AND BLESSING
On this occasion I want to greet our diaspora, both in America, Australia, and Europe and on all other continents where our scattering exists, to wish them every good in other people's countries, which become their country. Also to address them to preserve their characteristics in its culture, in its religious affiliation and the nurturing and preservation of their language.

I hope that our people will not lose their sense of belonging to Orthodox Serbian  Church led by our great figure of St.Sava. I that will be worthy to testify about himself, his origin and the people it belongs to. That during his life will spread the great wealth of our culture, which is part of European, Byzantine medieval culture, which as we know, was the foundation of a new culture, new science and new development and progress of nations, as European, and American.

Especially to our people in the distant Australia, that the Church will always be with their people and believe that our people will always have a lot of trust and loyalty to his nation and his Church.

I salute them all and this time send its first patriarchal blessing to the clergy and the blessing of our Serbian Orthodox people throughout the world ......''

Bishop Chrysostom