Parlic: Increasingly vocal attempts to appropriate Serbian heritage in Kosovo and Metohija; silence of the international community is concerning

Assistant Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Milena Parlic, stated in an interview for UNA television that attempts to portray Serbian cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo and Metohija as “Kosovar” are becoming increasingly pronounced, warning about the lack of reaction from the international community and the need to protect holy sites under the auspices of UNESCO.

Parlic emphasized that efforts to appropriate and redefine Serbian heritage in Kosovo and Metohija are becoming more frequent, despite historical facts.

She pointed out that the absence of a response from the international community is particularly concerning, recalling that these are sites of exceptional importance, such as the Serbian Patriarchate in Pec.

“If UNESCO and the international community fail to implement international monitoring in the protection of monasteries under UNESCO protection, then the very existence of these organizations should indeed be called into question. Pristina’s goal is UNESCO membership, and those who until recently destroyed Serbian shrines in Kosovo and Metohija—not only Serbian, but also European and global heritage—do not deserve a place in international organizations and institutions,” said Milena Parlic for UNA.

She stressed that this issue has persisted for years, recalling the destruction in 1999.

“This problem did not arise yesterday. In plain view of the international community, in 1999, 155 Serbian monasteries and churches—unique elements of world heritage—were destroyed,” Parlic noted, adding that the struggle to preserve heritage is conducted through peaceful means and by maintaining life and activities on the ground.

“It is fought through truth, through visits—the Church in Kosovo and Metohija has never been more vibrant, with more cultural events and manifestations than ever before. What we as a state, and our country, expect from the world, the EU, and the international community is nothing more and nothing less than respect for the religious and civil rights of the Serbian Church and the Serbian people,” Parlic explained.