Minister hopes Belgrade-Pristina agreement will better protect Serb heritage in Kosovo and Metohija

Photo: Tanjug/Dragan Kujundzic

Serbian Minister of Culture and Information Vladan Vukosavljevic hopes that the provisions of the agreement on the normalization of economic relations between Belgrade and Pristina, made in Washington, will enable for better and more consistent protection of Serb cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija and will obligate the temporary mission of the international community (UNMIK) to do that, but also local the authorities in Kosovo and Metohija.

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In a written statement for Tanjug, Vukosavljevic pointed out that bearing in mind the importance of the meeting in Washington there are reasons for moderate optimism, going forward ,when it comes to the rule of law and actions of courts and other bodies, local and international, and measures and procedures concerning the Serb cultural heritage.

The minister recalled that previously there had been problems and delays in the implementation of court decisions regarding the usurpation of the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as court decisions related to infrastructure projects endangering buildings and monumental heritage, such as the recent construction of a road in the protected zone around the monastery Visoki Decani.

"The Ministry of Culture and Information calls on UNMIK and UNESCO and all other institutions and organizations that have jurisdiction or may have an impact in protecting Serb heritage in Kosovo and Metohija to make maximum commitment and care to preserving our cultural heritage in the southern Serbian province, bearing in mind that these are also cultural goods of importance for the whole world," said Vukosavljevic.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)