You make valid points and in fact confirm the opportunity that the Vatican has with Kosovo to narrow the gap and eliminate any Russian scepticism as you also note to that extent:

“Will Constantinople have to admit that, possibly, the Russian Church was correct in its skeptical approach to the latest eccumenical efforts or will Patriarch Bartholomew marshall on despite the developments in Kosovo.”

I am afraid that the opportunity will be wasted.

However, I have my deep skepticism about what the Vatican may do. It was recently a deep sign of disrespect that the Pope Benedict would even entertain the Kosovo leadership as some sort of heads of state on an official visit. The Vatican, like the US government, is well aware of the brutality, both past and present, that has been unleashed by Albanians in Kosovo. And they are also well aware of the destruction of the Christian heritage of Kosovo. It is remarkable that under these circumstances they have not ALREADY announced their support for Serbia.

As a correction to your post, the Russian patriarch has been quite skeptical of the Vatican’s and Constantinople’s eccumencial activities. And, unlike the Bishop of Rome, he did not entertain Albanian radicals, but rather has taken time to meet with Prime Minister Kostunica as the legitimate representative of Kosovo & Metihoja. This, in and of itself, speaks volumes.

That a rift between the Latin and Greek wings may continue should not be a great surprise to anyone. However, what should worry Orthodox peoples is the possibility of a rift developing within the Greek East itself. Increasingly we see a “Russian wing” and a “Greek wing” within Orthodox circles - with the Russian wing grwowing steadily among Serbs and other Slavs. We know with some certainty where Patriarch Alexy II stands on the issue of Kosovo, but it is Patriarch Bartholomew and the newly elected Archbishop of Greece who are now in the spotlight in the Orthodox world. It is assumed they will issue a statement in support of Serbia’s Church, but how far will they go in exhorting the Vatican to take diplomatic action remains to be seen, and is, frankly speaking, the more important matter. Will Constantinople have to admit that, possibly, the Russian Church was correct in its skeptical approach to the latest eccumenical efforts or will Patriarch Bartholomew marshall on despite the developments in Kosovo. This is more than a little bit of politics being played out with the Russian patriarchate positioning itself as the “third Rome” and as the more legitimate heir to the leadership of the Orthodox world.

Greece’s government, unlike the Greek Cypriots, has not ruled out recognizing Kosovo. The Greek people would certainly be against it, but this does not mean that the EU bureaucracy will not push the Greek government in another direction. Editorials in Greek papers already have been priming the public. THAT development could also contribute to a harmful splintering in the east. (This, incidentally, does not mean that the Greeks themselves don’t have a “Russian wing” developing. But that is a topic for another day….)

These are difficult times, in general and aside from the Kosovo issue, for traditional Christians. As the legitimate heirs to the Apostolic Tradition, every faithful Christian should pray for Rome, Constantinople, and Moscow to show solidarity with Belgrade/Pec.