BELGRADE - The Holly Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) urged Thursday the people of Kosovo-Metohija not to take part in the local elections and thus ignore the authorities of the self-proclaimed Kosovo republic.

We urge all people of faith in Kosovo-Metohija not to respond to the illegal institutions of the self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo due to their disrespect of basic human rights in this Serbian province guaranteed by the Charter of the United Nations, and particularly Resolution 1244, and ignore the forthcoming local elections in Kosovo-Metohija, the appeal published on the SPC official website said.

The appeal was signed by His Eminence of the Holly Synod of Bishops Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro.

The local elections in the self-proclaimed Kosovo republic are scheduled for November 15, 2009.