UNESCO Donors Conference for the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Kosovo: UNESCO

This initiative follows the High-level Conference on Strengthening Cooperation in South-East Europe, held at UNESCO Headquarters 4-5 April 2002.

The donors� conference will be held at UNESCO Headquarters and will be opened jointly by the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Ko�chiro Matsuura, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Mr. S�ren Jessen-Petersen and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe (CoE), Mr Terry Davis. The Conference will be organized in cooperation with UNMIK, the Council of Europe and the European Commission. A large number of potential donors will be invited, and numerous media representatives are expected to follow the event and to attend a press conference. The Director-General of UNESCO will chair the Conference.

The purpose of the conference is to sensitize the international community and the public at large to the situation of the cultural and historical monuments and buildings in Kosovo, and to initiate a coordinated international approach towards their rehabilitation and protection.

The Monastery of Dečani, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2004, and many other historically significant monuments of the Middle Ages that bear witness to the outstanding value of Serbian Orthodox architecture; archaeological findings dating from the 6 millennium B.C. to the Roman period; Islamic monuments such as mosques and hammāms dating from the Ottoman period; and a variety of monuments of refined vernacular architecture - they all testify to the rich diversity of the cultural heritage in Kosovo. This needs to be preserved as a unique contribution to the heritage of mankind and as a shared legacy that calls for a common responsibility for its protection.

Above all, the cultural heritage in Kosovo must be protected from any damage that could affect its richness and diversity.

OBJECTIVES:

The overall objectives of the conference are to : highlight the need for dialogue among cultures and civilizations, aiming at a better understanding of the shared values of cultural heritage; generate mutual respect for the artistic and cultural achievements of the respective communities in Kosovo; and generate international awareness of cultural issues and muster political and financial resources, in cooperation between major international organizations that are concerned with the situation of cultural heritage in Kosovo.

The specific objectives are to : raise funds for restoring cultural monuments damaged or destroyed, as described in the technical reports prepared in 2003 and 2004 by UNESCO and by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the European Commission; agree on a selection of priority projects to be implemented in Kosovo by UNESCO, UNMIK, the Council of Europe, the European Commission and any other concerned partner, based on UNESCO�s expertise in post-conflict rehabilitation of cultural heritage; and enhance coordination of efforts at the international level for the protection and rehabilitation of the cultural heritage in Kosovo. These issues are being followed closely by UNESCO Office in Venice Culture Section.

The expected results include pledges of financial support, as well as an outline of an international strategy for the rehabilitation and safeguarding of cultural heritage in Kosovo.

PARTICIPATION:

Member States of UNESCO�s Europe region (which comprises the Member States of the EU and of the CoE), as well as Member States with a record as donors to UNESCO�s extra-budgetary programmes, have been specifically invited as well as Liechtenstein and The Holy See. Following established UNESCO practice, the conference shall be open-ended as regards the participation of all Member States of UNESCO.

A large number of relevant international organizations, both intergovernmental and non-governmental, have been invited, as well as selected foundations and representatives of the private sector.

WORKING DOCUMENTS:

A consolidated summary of the monuments and sites described in the two UNESCO reports and the four Council of Europe reports prepared in 2003 and 2004 is the main conference document.

UNESCO

Cultural Heritage in South-East Europe: KOSOVO, March 2003

Cultural Heritage in South-East Europe: KOSOVO 2, Mission Report, 26-30 April 2004

The Council of Europe

Preliminary Technical Assessment Report on the Religious Buildings/Ensembles and Cultural Sites damaged in March 2004 in Kosovo

Technical Assessment Report on the Religious Buildings/Ensembles and Cultural Sites damaged in March 2004 in Kosovo

Technical Assessment Report on the Religious Buildings/Ensembles and Cultural Sites damaged in March 2004 in Kosovo (bis)

Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan, Survey of the Architectural and Archaeological Heritage (IRPP/SAAH), Regional Programme for Cultural and Natural Heritage in South-East Europe, Kosovo/UNMIK

	Click here to download (PDF)
Website (URL)	http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=26616&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
Organizer	United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Council of Europe, European Commission


Start Date	13-05-2005 9:00 am -
End Date	13-05-2005 9:00 am -
Event Type	Conference
Event Location	UNESCO Headquarters, Paris