Wednesday, 26 April 2006

SRSG signs the Executive Order on the Deçan/Decani canyon special zoning area

PRISTINA - The Special Representative of the Secretary General Sřren Jessen-Petersen has signed the Executive Decision No. 2006/9 extending the Special Zoning Area (SZA) - Deçan/Decani.

The canyon area requires special protection measures to preserve its unique cultural, historic and natural attributes, which are the common heritage of Kosovo. It contains, among other things, parks, forests of protected trees, a natural spring and the Visoki Decani Monastery, which is the only site in Kosovo that is included on the UNESCO World heritage list. The area was declared a SZA on 25 April 2005.

The SRSG underlined that "the special zoning area does not affect private ownership rights but makes clear that potential investors, owners and users of all land in the area must follow Kosovo laws and UNESCO and other international standards on the preservation of cultural and natural heritage."

A SZA Committee includes representatives of UNMIK, municipal authorities, Visoki Decani Monastery, KFOR and KPS so that all stakeholders are involved in the implementation of the SZA. The Committee, which was established to review claims for land use (e.g. fire wood, gravel exploitation) within the SZA, has worked well and several cases have resulted in decisions favorable to the Kosovo Albanian claimants who own private land within the SZA, while others have prevented illegal activities in the area.

The SZA aims at encouraging development of the area that promotes economic activities without damaging the natural beauty and cultural attributes of the canyon, including the Visoki Decani Monastery. Special zonal plans are gradually being prepared by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government throughout Kosovo to protect the environment and to provide for the economic potential of society.

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