Serbia warns UNESCO its heritage heritage in Kosovo is under “great threat”
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic warned in Paris on Monday that the Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo was “under great threat” and thanked UNESCO for its efforts aimed at preserving the Serbian culture monuments.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, April 08, 2008
"Attempts to damage, plunder, torch, desacrate and destroy what others built long ago in the belief that such acts might help invent history to fit one's own needs must be condemned in the strongest terms and described for what they are - fanatical and revolting acts of cultural cleansing", Jeremic said at the Executive Council of UNESCO, of which Serbia is a member.
"This is the reality in Kosovo - dark, ugly reality which stains democratic achievements in the Western Balkans. None of the peoples can build their common future on the ashes of disappeared heritage", Jeremic said.
He recalled that in the past eight years Kosovo Albanian extremists had destroyed more than 150 churches and monasteries, many of which dated back to the 14th century, and 35 of them during the March 2004 pogrom alone.
Hundreds of other holy places are in danger, which was recognised by UNESCO and its World Heritage Centre, Jeremic said and added that Serbia highly appreciated the sensitivity which UNESCO had shown on this issue.
He thanked UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura, Italy, Greece, Czech Republic and the Council of Europe for their efforts to restore and preserve the Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo.
