Serbian Ministry of Culture: Pristina falsifies reality and violates the principles of common sense

In its attempts to promote the "project of the false state of Kosovo, Pristina continues to falsify reality and violate the principles of common sense through unilateral and violent actions," the Serbian Ministry of Culture stated to Kosovo Online.

As noted in their statement to Kosovo Online, “The very tactics Pristina employs are both transparent and aggressive, relying on the belief that by persistently repeating their absurd claims, they will eventually make them appear acceptable and ultimately true.”

“In this charade, there is a prevailing tendency to shift the blame for the destruction of their own cultural heritage onto Serbia and the Serbian people, who have been victims of decades-long persecution in all areas, particularly in the cultural domain, through fabricated and obscene accusations. To complete the absurdity, this is done by those who, at the very least, do nothing to prevent the ongoing destruction, theft, and desecration of Serbian cultural heritage, which continues to this day,” the Ministry said, responding to a statement by Kosovo’s Minister of Culture, Hajrulla Ceku, who claimed that Serbia destroyed 1,800 monuments and stole 3,700 artifacts in Kosovo.

The statement added that numerous churches have been desecrated.

“For the sake of truth, let us recall that following the conflict in 1999, in organized attacks, a significant number of Serbian churches and monasteries were desecrated, damaged, or completely destroyed. Some works of Serbian medieval architecture and painting from the 14th and 15th centuries were permanently erased. In the wave of violence in March 2004, many Serbian monuments, including the Monastery of the Holy Archangels near Prizren, Devic Monastery, and several medieval churches in Prizren itself, were among those destroyed. Thirty-four churches and monasteries were destroyed, burned, or damaged. Over 10,000 icons, religious artifacts, and liturgical objects were destroyed or stolen. In addition, 5,261 gravestones in 256 Orthodox cemeteries were damaged or destroyed, while more than 50 cemeteries have no intact gravestones,” the Ministry emphasized.

They pointed out that, given these facts and recent statements, “it is evident that an attempt is being made to falsify an alibi for the overall atmosphere of fear, persecution, and violence, in which brutal and continuous attacks on cultural heritage – key evidence of Serbian identity and roots in Kosovo and Metohija – are part of everyday life.”

“In this context, Pristina’s representatives do not hesitate to make nonsensical claims and invoke international documents such as UNESCO conventions, of which Serbia is one of the most conscientious members. Within the framework of UNESCO, Serbia is actively safeguarding cultural treasures that remain on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger precisely because of the ongoing violence against cultural heritage. Another underhanded tactic involves using fabrications and outright lies about Serbia destroying Serbian cultural monuments, along with the establishment of 'institutions' whose sole purpose is to promote a false history of a false state. This is a clear attempt to obscure the fact that this very secessionism, unilateralism, and violence led to conflicts in which Serbian cultural heritage was systematically destroyed,” the Ministry concluded.