Selakovic: Cultural heritage in Kosovo is one of the most endangered cultural assets in the world

Serbian Minister of Culture Nikola Selakovic warned today that cultural heritage in Kosovo remains, even in the 21st century, one of the most endangered cultural assets in Europe and the world. He noted that since 1999, more than 150 Orthodox churches and monasteries in Kosovo have been demolished, destroyed, or burned.

Speaking in Skopje, where he participated in the Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Platform for Education and Training, Research and Innovation, and Culture, Selakovic emphasized the importance of protection against deliberate destruction and desecration.

"Although Serbia actively promotes the protection of cultural heritage bilaterally and through cooperation with international organizations such as UNESCO, the Council of Europe, ICOM, and ICOMOS, the cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija remains, in the 21st century, one of the most endangered cultural assets in Europe and the world," Selakovic stressed.

He pointed out that international cooperation and work within international organizations must not be misused to promote the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, and that the Western Balkans Platform must not be misused to prejudge Kosovo's status.

"In the interest of peace and stability, due respect must be given to appropriate dialogue formats and previously reached agreements," Selakovic noted.

The minister recalled that since June 1999, more than 150 Orthodox churches and monasteries in Kosovo, many of which were built in the 13th and 14th centuries, have been demolished, destroyed, or burned, along with 122 Serbian cemeteries. In March 2004, within just two days, 34 churches and monasteries were destroyed, burned, or damaged, and three cemeteries were razed.

"It should be noted that some of the destroyed and damaged Orthodox medieval gems were on UNESCO's World Heritage List. More than 10 icons, church artifacts, and liturgical items were stolen and destroyed. A total of 5,261 gravestones were destroyed or damaged across 256 Orthodox cemeteries, while over 50 cemeteries have no intact monuments," Selakovic enumerated, as stated by the Ministry of Culture.

He also mentioned that in North Mitrovica, where Serbs live, the Muslim cemetery remains undamaged, as are other Albanian and Muslim cemeteries in Serbian communities in Kosovo.

Regarding regional cooperation and the mobility of artists and cultural professionals, the minister stated that freedom of movement is a universal value and one of the fundamental human rights but that it is most drastically denied to members of the Serbian community in Kosovo.

"In this context, I will mention just one example due to its symbolism. In May of this year, the play The Book of Milutin, produced by the Zvezdara Theater in Belgrade, was prevented from being performed when the theater team, led by renowned actor Nenad Jezdic, was denied passage across the administrative line to Kosovo and Metohija. Ironically, this play speaks of the suffering of the common man, who, then as now, pays the price for unilateral violence, fanaticism, and the rewriting of history. This pain has been felt by millions of people in our region for centuries. Therefore, it is no coincidence that this particular play was banned by Pristina," Selakovic emphasized.

He also stated that Serbia is ready and open for constructive dialogue and genuine improvement of artists' mobility, recognizing creativity as an extremely important resource for overall development. However, he added that to achieve this goal, at least minimal conditions must be met — the persecution and fear in which Serbs in Kosovo live must end.