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Course of action for protection of Kosovo cultural heritage presented
Belgrade,
26 March 2004
Deputy-Head of the Coordinating Centre for Kosovo-Metohija Branislav Krstic has set out the course of action to preserve cultural monuments and Orthodox churches in Kosovo in the wake of last week’s violence by ethnic-Albanian extremists.
Branislav Krstic
Krstic told a press conference yesterday that UNMIK is responsible for the “crime against culture” that took place in Kosovo, adding that this crime was more dramatic and had more serious consequences than the one that happened in 1999.
Krstic pointed out that the crime was a result of UNMIK’s inadequate policy and the transfer of responsibility for the cultural heritage to Kosovo’s provisional institutions, which he said are neither willing nor qualified for such a task. This has left Kosovo’s cultural heritage unprotected, he said.
According to Krstic, the UN administration has neglected the Coordinating Centre’s warnings and has failed to act in line with the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
Following last week’s razing of churches and monasteries in Kosovo, the Coordinating Centre has adjusted its strategy for the protection of cultural monuments adopted in May 2003.
The strategy calls for repeated demands to implement the 1954 Hague Convention and setting up a body to protect the cultural heritage in cooperation with local authorities.
The Serbia-Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs should urge the UN to help implement the Hague Convention, while Serbia-Montenegrin authorities must help domestic experts to get better access to the sites.
UNESCO should analyse the situation in Kosovo and propose measures to rebuild the monuments of culture in the province. The current policy regarding the protection of cultural heritage in Kosovo should be overhauled and presented to ambassadors of EU countries, Russia, and the US. It is also necessary to call for the participation of their experts in the reconstruction of the demolished churches and cultural monuments.
UNMIK should take measures to rebuild the monuments and protects their remains. The reconstruction of the Holy Archangels Monastery and Devic Monastery as well as the Church of Holy Virgin of Lyevish should begin in April this year.
At the recommendation by UNESCO, the Serbian government, UNMIK, and Kosovo’s provisional institutions should define a policy for the protection of cultural heritage.
Krstic also said that Kosovo Parliament, which has lost its authority after last week’s clashes, should not be the one to pass legislation on monuments.
Krstic pointed out that the crime was a result of UNMIK’s inadequate policy and the transfer of responsibility for the cultural heritage to Kosovo’s provisional institutions, which he said are neither willing nor qualified for such a task. This has left Kosovo’s cultural heritage unprotected, he said.
According to Krstic, the UN administration has neglected the Coordinating Centre’s warnings and has failed to act in line with the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
Following last week’s razing of churches and monasteries in Kosovo, the Coordinating Centre has adjusted its strategy for the protection of cultural monuments adopted in May 2003.
The strategy calls for repeated demands to implement the 1954 Hague Convention and setting up a body to protect the cultural heritage in cooperation with local authorities.
The Serbia-Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs should urge the UN to help implement the Hague Convention, while Serbia-Montenegrin authorities must help domestic experts to get better access to the sites.
UNESCO should analyse the situation in Kosovo and propose measures to rebuild the monuments of culture in the province. The current policy regarding the protection of cultural heritage in Kosovo should be overhauled and presented to ambassadors of EU countries, Russia, and the US. It is also necessary to call for the participation of their experts in the reconstruction of the demolished churches and cultural monuments.
UNMIK should take measures to rebuild the monuments and protects their remains. The reconstruction of the Holy Archangels Monastery and Devic Monastery as well as the Church of Holy Virgin of Lyevish should begin in April this year.
At the recommendation by UNESCO, the Serbian government, UNMIK, and Kosovo’s provisional institutions should define a policy for the protection of cultural heritage.
Krstic also said that Kosovo Parliament, which has lost its authority after last week’s clashes, should not be the one to pass legislation on monuments.
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