UNESCO Discussion with Bishop to Define Serbian Heritage Criteria

From: Diocese of Ras-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija (info@eparhija-prizren.com)
Sent: Fri 11/14/08 1:55 AM
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UNESCO IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA



Bishop of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija and the Head of the Culture section of UNESCO in Venice held a meeting on October 15, 2008, with the goal of commencing UNESCO activities on the rehabilitation of the Serbian sanctuaries in Kosovo and Metohija.
Discussions in the meeting concerned the up-to-date UNESCO attempts to start rehabilitation of some Serbian sanctuaries in Kosovo and Metohija, after the Donours’ conference organized in May 2005. Especially emphasized was the disagreement of Bishop with the registration of the Serbian sanctuaries in the World’s cultural and natural heritage list, without the determining it a Serbian heritage. A point of view was conformed that the mechanisms of reconstruction carried out by the Council of Europe according to the Memorandum are unacceptable.
UNESCO representative was acquainted with the existence of experts’ bodies within the Diocese, and it was agreed that the existing principles of action of the Diocese and UNESCO be harmonized as a precondition to start the cooperation.
Further correspondence and closer definition of all the agreements from the meeting held in Gracanica is in course.

Press service of Raska and Prizren Diocese