Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Kosovo

• © UNESCO/ Horst Gödicke

As monuments of major historical significance, representing both Islamic/Ottoman and Serbian Orthodox traditions, were targets of intentional destruction and vandalism in the past years of tension and outbreaks of violence, UNESCO organized a Conference of donors thanks to which three million dollars (US) were raised for rehabilitation work on a number of cultural and religious sites that form part of the cultural heritage in Kosovo.

The conference took place at UNESCO’s Headquarters on 13 May 2005, and was organized in close cooperation with the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the Council of Europe and the European Commission.

Representatives of donor countries, IGOs, NGOs and Foundations had the opportunity to demonstrate their solidarity by pledging financial contributions for restoration and rehabilitation works that were carried out, on the basis of technical reports prepared by high-level expert missions dispatched to Kosovo in the past years.

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.

Detailed reports prepared by UNESCO:

• Cultural Heritage in South-East Europe: KOSOVO, March 2003
• Cultural Heritage in South-East Europe: KOSOVO 2, Mission Report, 26-30 April 2004

For further information:

• Director-General condemns attack on UNESCO World Heritage site of Decani in Kosovo - Press release No.2007-33
• Medieval Monuments in Kosovo
• UNESCO Office Venice