Serbs, ethnic Albanians agree on protection of Serb religious sites in Kosovo

Associated Press, May 23, 2006 12:31 PM

 

VIENNA, Austria-Ethnic Albanian and Serbian officials agreed Tuesday on basic elements on how to protect Kosovo's cultural and religious sites, particularly in parts of the province dominated by ethnic Albanians.

 

"There are a number of conceptual differences, but there was a far-reaching agreement on the protection of religious sites," said Albert Rohan, a Austrian diplomat and a U.N.-appointed mediator for the talks.

 

He said both delegations agreed on the issue of "physical protection" of Serbian Orthodox religious sites in the province and on protection zones that would be guarded by international peacekeepers.

 

Serbs consider Kosovo to be the cradle of their civilization, and key Serbian religious and historical sites are located there, and are currently being guarded by NATO peacekeepers.

 

In March 2004, the holy sites were targeted in anti-Serb riots that left more than 30 medieval churches and monasteries damaged or destroyed. That year, UNESCO designated the Visoki Decani monastery, the largest and the best preserved medieval monastery in the province, a World Heritage site.

 

"Every destroyed religious site must be rebuilt ... with experts from UNESCO and the EU," Rohan said.

 

Under the tentative deal, Serbian Orthodox dioceses in Kosovo would have the right to maintain special ties with the Patriarchate in Belgrade, to enjoy tax privileges, freedom of movement and the right to run other affairs.

 

"We've found some agreeable points at least on practical matters ... but this is just the first meeting about this issue," said Leon Kojen, a key Serbian negotiator.

 

Serbs negotiators have also tried to link the protection of Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries with the autonomy of Serbian minority in the province, something ethnic Albanian side opposed.

 

"We were opposed to the proposal about linking cultural heritage with the decentralization issue," said Ylber Hysa, a Kosovo Albanian negotiator.

 

Kosovo has been administered by the United Nations and patrolled by international peacekeepers since a 1999 NATO air war halted a crackdown by Serb forces on separatist ethnic Albanians. About 100,000 Serbs remain in Kosovo, living mostly in enclaves protected by peacekeepers. More than 200,000 Serbs and other non-Albanians fled after the war, fearing reprisals by ethnic Albanians, and only a trickle have returned.

 

Three top Serbian Orthodox bishops, including Bishop Artemije, who is responsible for a diocese in central Kosovo, were also participating in the talks.

 

Rohan said a Serbian proposal for restitution of church property confiscated by communists after World War II had also failed.

 

Tuesday's meeting follows four rounds of largely deadlocked discussions on reforming Kosovo's local government and allowing the province's Serb minority to run their own affairs in areas in where they form a majority.

 

Rohan said the deadlock was the result of "lack of political will on both sides."

 

"We urged the Serbian prime minister and Kosovo side for a bit of flexibility," he said.

 

The discussions are part of a United Nations-led effort aimed at steering the two sides toward settling the province's status by the end of the year. U.N. mediators led by former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari are expected to call in July for direct talks on the province's future.

 

Kosovo remains formally part of Serbia, but its ethnic Albanian majority wants independence, while Serbs want Belgrade to retain control.

 

Rohan said the next round of talks on economic issues would be held in Vienna on May 31.