December 25, 2005

KiM Info Newsletter 25-12-05

Reconstruction Implementation Commission
for Orthodox Religious Sites in Kosovo

PRESS RELEASE 21 December 2005

FIRST PHASE OF RECONSTRUCTION PROCESS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED

The Reconstruction Implementation Commission (RIC) announces the completion of the works of protection and consolidation carried out in 30 Orthodox religious sites damaged in March 2004. The RIC considers that it has fully achieved its goal of protecting the sites against further deterioration before the arrival of winter.

The RIC began work in June 2005 as a result of an agreement between the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) and the Provisional Institutions of Self Government (PISG) to repair Orthodox sites damaged in March 2004. The PISG has funded interventions at all sites except the Church of St Nicholas in Prizren, which was supported by a generous donation from the US office.

Temporary roof over the burned church of St. Nicholas in Pristina

Between June and September 2005, the RIC prepared and tendered emergency interventions for 30 sites, which began implementation in October 2005. More extensive works of reconstruction and preservation will proceed in 2006. As part of a long-term conservation programme, the RIC organized an expert mission to survey wall paintings within the damaged sites.

The RIC is headed by an international expert, Ms. Emma Carmichael, appointed by the Council of Europe (CoE) and includes representatives from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), the SOC and the Institutions for the Protection of Monuments of Kosovo and Belgrade.

International partners, the CoE, UNMIK and the European Commission, have expressed their satisfaction not only with the concrete work of the RIC, but also with the outstanding collaboration demonstrated by PISG in Kosovo, SOC, Institutions in Serbia as well as by the Albanian, Serbian and international professionals and institutions who have made this work possible. The RIC has proven to be the most effective mechanism of cooperation between the various stakeholders in the field of cultural heritage in Kosovo and all local and international partners have fully committed to continuing the works in 2006.

Completed reconstruction of the Church of the Mother of God in Softovic
Urosevac/Ferizaj Municipality

SUMMARY OF INTERVENTIONS CARRIED OUT DURING 2005

• Protective fences were placed in the churches of St. Petka in Shipasnice e Poshtme/Donja Sipasnica, Presentation of the Virgin and St. Florus and Laurus in Lipjan/Lipljian.

• Protection measures and consolidation of remains in the sites of the destroyed churches of St. Elias in Bistazhin/Bistazin, Assumption of the Holy Virgin in Gjakove/Djakovica and the cemetery chapel of St. Lazar in Piskote, where a large number of graves were also repaired.

• Further extensive protection measures, including provisional coverings, were also made in the churches of St. Nicholas in Prishtine/Pristina, Cathedral of St. George in Prizren and St. Elias in Vushtrri/Vucitrn. Extensive interventions in these churches is programmed for 2006.

• Minor repairs in the churches of St. Petka in Viti/Vitina, St. Michael in Obiliq/Obilic, St. Nicholas in Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje, Holy King Uros in Ferizaj/Urosevac and St. Michael in Shtime/Stimlje have been completed.

• Major consolidation and stabilization works have been carried out in the churches of the Holy Virgin Ljeviska, St Nicholas (Tutic’s), St George (Runovic’s), St. Saviour and St. Kyriake in Prizren, St. Joanikije at Devic, Presentation of the Holy Virgin in Bellopolje/Belo Polje, St. Sava in Mitrovica and St. Andrew in Podujevo. Internal and external repairs will be continued during next year.

• Churches and cemeteries repaired in the sites of St. Peter and Paul in Talinoc/Talinovac, St. Elias in Varoshe/Varosh Selo and Serbian town Cemetery and Chapel in Ferizaj/Urosevac.

• Complete reconstruction works were done in the churches of the Birth of the Holy Virgin in Softe/Softovic, St. Peter and Paul in Istog, St. John the Baptist in Peje/Pec and the refectory of the church of St. Kyriake in Brnjake/Brnjaca.

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