3rd International Conference THE IMPORTANCE OF PLACE

BH CICOP

VANISHING TREASURES OF KOSOVO AND METOHIA

Olivera Lekic, Phd candidateUniversity of Novi Sad

Faculty of Technical Science

aims of research

• Point out the problems cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija faces after war conflicts;

• A critical survey of previous measures taken for the conservation and maintenance of monuments of Serbian culture in Kosovo and Metohija;

• Analyzing the context in which the unrecognized state of Kosovo and its institutions are trying to take jurisdiction over the cultural monuments Serbia-Byzantine origin;

• Identification of possible practical measures that would help the management of heritage, to its protection and conservation in conflict and post-war periods in Kosovo and Metohija.

• Cultural heritage is representing a unique and irreplaceable cultural value of one nation.

• Man made hazard, such as war conflict have huge catastrophic consequences for human society, to its culture, beliefs, values, public and private life, built living space, as well as its future, which includes material and intangible heritage.

• Kosovo and Metohija has been characterized with violent and dynamic history.

• Serbian-Albanian conflict and NATO bombing

• Destructions in the post-war period

• March 17th 2004

introduction

• Non-effective cultural policy of the state

• Improper handling of the cultural heritage

• Bad management policies of cultural heritage

• Lack of preservation

• “Albanization” or Kosovarization - the aspiration of the Albanian people to make, whether linguistic or cultural assimilation of non-Albanian population and cultural assets to the Albanian language and Albanian culture.

• Endangerment of basic human rights

• There is no national management plan for the protection of cultural heritage in emergency situations such as war conflicts.

• Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Hague convention) -1954

• UN Security Council Resolution 1244 – 1999

• Joint document of Yugoslavia and UNMIK

• European Convention on the conservation of architectural heritage – 1985

• The Law on Protection of Cultural Monuments adopted for Kosovo and Metohija – 1977

• The Vancouver Declaration On Human Settlements-1976

Visoki Dečani monastery, 13th century Patriarchate of Peć, 12th century

Gračanica monastery, 13th centuryChurc of Our Lady of Ljeviš, 14th century

• Consistent application of international conventions and standards in the field of cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija;

• Protection of the rights of every individual and those who are responsible for the preservation of their own heritage;

• Applying the principles of integrated conservation and sustainable development of heritage;

• Involvement of international expert teams;

• Condemning incidents affecting and endangering the safety of the cultural heritage sites, and appropriate measures to punish the perpetrator of the incident;

final consideration

• Taking certain field activities with the aim of providing security to vulnerable communities and sites of cultural heritage;

• Facilitating the functioning of a sustainable management model for monasteries, which themselves represent a sustainable system whose functioning threatened the violation of international minority rights in Kosovo and Metohija;

• Highlighting the need for a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to heritage and diversity;

• Educate about the importance of cultural heritage and its diversity in a ethnic diverse environment, in order to raise awareness of its importance;

• Encourage the establishment of national conservation strategies and management of architectural heritage in the areas affected by war conflicts.

• The Republic of Serbia should be responsible for preservation of spiritual and cultural heritage of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, which would be a major step in helping the sustainability of this vanishing treasures.

“Maintaining one's culture, values and traditions is beyond price.”Getano Lui