June 22, 2006

KiM Info Newsletter 22-06-06

Minister of Culture Condemns Vandalism of Orthodox Cultural Heritage in Kosovo

Minister Astrit Haraqija expresses his conviction that it is in the interest of the people of Kosovo and their future to preserve and protect all the objects and monuments of cultural heritage in Kosovo, including those of Serbian Orthodox cult.

Pristina, 20.06.2006

The preservation and the protection of cultural heritage in Kosovo is and will remain one of the priorities of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and of the government of Kosovo. In this respect, the MCYS has started the process of reconstruction and restoration of cultural heritage monuments that were damaged during the war and during the riots in March 2004. The reconstruction of the Orthodox sites started thanks to the funds allocated from the Kosovo Consolidated Budget and to the support by the Council of Europe. This process is ongoing and we take responsibility for the successful realization of such an important project for the cultural heritage in Kosovo.

However, yesterday we have noticed that damages and attacks have been perpetrated against some Serbian Orthodox sites where the process of reconstruction is underway. These recent damages and attacks on Orthodox religious objects in some localities of Kosovo are vandalism of Kosovo cultural heritage. These damages are happening in a sensitive moment of Kosovo history.

Minister Astrit Haraqija condemns these attacks against Serbian Orthodox religious objects that are under reconstruction and, in general, against any object of cultural heritage in Kosovo.

Veli Bytyqi
Director of the Department of Public Relations
Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS)

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