Jeremić addresses UNESCO Council

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has told a session of the UNESCO Council in Paris that Serbian citizens want reconciliation, compromise and agreement. However, he warned that instrumentalizing culture as a means for conflict would not help towards that end. Jeremic addresses UNESCO Council Jeremic said that one of Serbia’s national priorities was to protect cultural heritage that was under threat, especially in Kosovo. The minister thanked UNESCO and donors for their efforts in restoring Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo, and reiterated that Albanian extremists had destroyed over 150 churches and monasteries over the last ten years, 35 of which had been destroyed during the March 2004 pogroms against the Serbs. He said that there was a lot more work to be done, because Serbian churches and cultural monuments in Kosovo were still in danger, adding that he hoped that the restoration of churches would encourage Kosovo Serbs to return to their homes. Jeremic said that UNMIK and EULEX needed to create a safe environment for people to be able to return, because otherwise, churches and monasteries that had been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites would soon turn into museums. The minister warned that Serbian heritage in Kosovo must be preserved, because it had a universal character and importance. He also said that restoring and policing the churches had become an even harder process since Kosovo declared unilateral independence. He said that the World Heritage Committee had postponed a decision on medieval monuments in Kosovo because of pressure to artificially separate this cornerstone of Serb heritage from the rest of Serbia. “I would like to thank UNESCO for helping thwart this attempt at politicizing cultural heritage,” Jeremic said, adding that such violations of international law and UNESCO practices could lead to unproductive divisions. “Serbian monasteries must not ever be allowed to become pawns in the dangerous game of creating identities,” the minister said, stating that such attempts were sadly afoot in Kosovo. Pristina’s claims that Serbian Orthodox heritage from the Middle Ages is in fact that of the Kosovo Albanians’ constitutes an attempt to change history, which must emphatically be condemned, Jeremic said. “The international community and UNESCO cannot be passive,” he stressed, adding that cultural cleansing was unacceptable. “Protecting and enhancing humanity’s cultural achievements are great challenges for all of us,” he said, underlining that it was time for everyone to focus on this noble goal once again. Vuk Jeremic (Beta)

Jeremić addresses UNESCO Council

Jeremić said that one of Serbia’s national priorities was to protect cultural heritage that was under threat, especially in Kosovo.

The minister thanked UNESCO and donors for their efforts in restoring Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo, and reiterated that Albanian extremists had destroyed over 150 churches and monasteries over the last ten years, 35 of which had been destroyed during the March 2004 pogroms against the Serbs.

He said that there was a lot more work to be done, because Serbian churches and cultural monuments in Kosovo were still in danger, adding that he hoped that the restoration of churches would encourage Kosovo Serbs to return to their homes.

Jeremić said that UNMIK and EULEX needed to create a safe environment for people to be able to return, because otherwise, churches and monasteries that had been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites would soon turn into museums.

The minister warned that Serbian heritage in Kosovo must be preserved, because it had a universal character and importance. He also said that restoring and policing the churches had become an even harder process since Kosovo declared unilateral independence.

He said that the World Heritage Committee had postponed a decision on medieval monuments in Kosovo because of pressure to artificially separate this cornerstone of Serb heritage from the rest of Serbia.

“I would like to thank UNESCO for helping thwart this attempt at politicizing cultural heritage,” Jeremić said, adding that such violations of international law and UNESCO practices could lead to unproductive divisions.

“Serbian monasteries must not ever be allowed to become pawns in the dangerous game of creating identities,” the minister said, stating that such attempts were sadly afoot in Kosovo.

Priština’s claims that Serbian Orthodox heritage from the Middle Ages is in fact that of the Kosovo Albanians’ constitutes an attempt to change history, which must emphatically be condemned, Jeremić said.

“The international community and UNESCO cannot be passive,” he stressed, adding that cultural cleansing was unacceptable.

“Protecting and enhancing humanity’s cultural achievements are great challenges for all of us,” he said, underlining that it was time for everyone to focus on this noble goal once again.