Item 1: newspackage "Kosovo: cultural heritage in danger"

"Architectural monuments that make up the built cultural heritage in Kosovo have been found to be in a precarious and most vulnerable situation", according to experts composing a special UNESCO mission visiting Kosovo from
12 to 18 March 2003. " This applies to its three major categories, i.e. Islamic architecture such as mosques, Byzanine/Orthodox architecture such as churches and monasteries, and vernacular architecture such as traditional
residential buildings like tower houses (kullas) and lodgings (konaks), but also bridges, fortresses and urban centres."

The members of the mission carried out extensive field visits in order to obtain a balanced view of the present state of the built cultural heritage in Kosovo. The mission report has not been published yet, but the German expert heading the mission, Mr. Horst GÖDICKE (Chairman, UNESCO Intersectoral Working Group on South-East Europe), accepted an exclusive interview with SEETV on 25 September in Paris, at the UNESCO headquarters.

The experts note that three different factors account for the present sad state of the cultural heritage sites

• intentional destruction by dynamite, shelling and fire
• vandalism and looting
• the process of normal ageing and decaying of all monuments, aggravated by environmental pollution and significant neglect of protection and preservation.

In many cases, the combination of two factors has worsened the situation. At almost all sites, the third factor, and especially the neglect of maintenance and protection from further vandalism, has played an important role. Indeed, during the periods preceding and following the armed hostilities, countless acts of excessive violence have been directed at places of worship. Spiritual centres of a religious or ethnic community have a highly symbolic value, and often have acquired an additional dimension through forms or elements of intangible heritage attached to them.
Therefore, such sites lend themselves as targets of a particularly cruel form of aggression.

The expert mission underlines the fact that the expectations of the Kosovo Serbians and the Kosovo Albanians concerning cultural protection differ significantly. Whereas the large majority of the former feel concerned with the fate of the sites belonging to the Serbian Orthodox Church, the latter are relatively little prepared to identify themselves with monuments and sites of the Ottoman period. Thus e.g. the overriding significance of Pec, the traditional See of the Serbian Orthodox Church, is not nearly matched by any unifying symbol for the Kosovo Albanians.

Therefore, a certain asymmetry of expectations and commitment cannot be overlooked when comparing the two communities in general terms.

The expert mission points out to the fact that what is lacking most is awareness among the citizens of both communities that preserving the important cultural monuments and sites inherited from previous generations within a given space, is the common responsibility vis-ŕ-vis future generations. This awareness is not found at the local and municipal level, where it is most necessary, and it hardly exists in the major political parties and academic circles.

Recommendations of the mission

The very first priority is to prevent further violence and destruction of cultural heritage in Kosovo. All parties should be made to understand that the cultural heritage of each is the cultural heritage of all, and that the respect for cultural diversity demands acknowledgement of the legitimacy of the cultural values of all parties.

This basic message needs to be conveyed to all citizens in a vast programme aiming at awareness raising of cultural heritage protection and preservation. It will require the active cooperation of municipalities so as to ensure that it reaches the local population. There is no doubt that educating all levels of that population as to the value and significance of cultural heritage in general is a slow and painstaking process. In certain communities it will be difficult to persuade people even to preserve monuments that belong to "their own" building heritage. This task, however, should become one of the top priority objectives on the municipal but also
on the highest political levels.

COMPOSITION OF THE MISSION

1. Horst GÖDICKE, Head of Mission (GER)
Chairman,
UNESCO Intersectoral Working Group on South-East Europe

2. Slobodan CURCIC (USA)
Professor of Byzantine Art and Archaeology,
Princeton University, USA

3. Bengt O.H. JOHANSSON (SWE)
Honorary Member,
Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts, Stockholm

4. Saleh LAMEI (EGY)
Director-General,
Centre for Conservation and Preservation of Islamic Architectural Heritage,
Cairo

5. Christoph MACHAT (GER)
Chairman,
International Committee on Vernacular Architecture of the
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)

6. Emin RIZA (ALB)
Former Director,
Albanian Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, Tirana

SHOTLIST ITEM 1

01:25
Cutaways
UNESCO HQ in Paris

02:36
M. Horst Gödicke arriving at UNESCO

03:05
M. Horst Gödicke in the UNESCO Library

03:26
On the significance of the cultural monuments of Kosovo

They are of outstanding importance not only to the different communities of Kosovo but for the world as a whole. Not only for Europe, I say for the world because you have very outstanding monuments from the 13. and 14.century- on the Orthodox side you have from the Ottoman period fantastic, beautifully remnants, beautiful monuments, some of them are destroyed on both sides so I think for anybody interested in retracing the history of mankind, Kosovo is a corner stone.

04:14
On the extent of the destruction of Kosovo's monuments

One could go into categorizing the extent of destruction. It is a tedious task. What I can say is that there are not dozens but there are hundreds of cultural sites that have been violated, desecrated, destroyed, blown up by dynamite. In some cases the weather, the meteorological situation has worsened the situation. I cannot claim and UNESCO cannot claim to have a complete picture of the extent of damages done throughout Kosovo but let me say that around 50-60 monuments need priority attention and this would be a great , a great signal to the international community, also.

05:21
On the main reasons for the bad condition of the cultural heritage of Kosovo

Well, the main reason, of course, destruction by bombing, by dynamite, by fire, some also probably by non-intententional bombing during the NATO intervention but I have no evidence for this but the major damage has, of course been done intentionally by representatives, extremists from both communities.Then, of course, by the end of the NATO intervention there was a situation of semi-anarchy, no government, no police force, law and order were just out of order. And that was probably the worst moment, when the worst destructions took place. So, let me put it this way-it is not really relevant for anybody to go back and find out who is guilty, who did what.This is not UNESCO's task, this is not the task of the UN. Our task is to be forward looking, to try to get the communitites that are not able to dialogue harmoniously with themselves to get them together and to start reflecting on how best to repair the damage done. The damage is done.

07:06
How the Serb and the Albanian Kosovar communities identify themselves with the orthodox and islamic cultural heritage

The Serb population is really ready to identify themselves with the splendid monasteries of Gracanica, of Decani, of Pec, these are holy places which are objects of veneration, of religious veneration of a whole religious community and, therefore, I found, and my team found that there is great concern among the Serb population, whether practicing Christians or not, to have these monuments protected and preserved. There is a significant difference which we found concerning the monuments of Islamic heritage. There is also very little that we found in terms of population identifying themselves in a passionate way with Mosques or with cultural monuments from the Islamic culture.This is just a difference that is very striking and which may have consequences for the reconstruction and for the restoration chapter which is now opening.

08:44
Negative features of the issue

The negative feature is reluctance to unconditional dialogue. We in UNESCO have learned and everybody who has worked at UNESCO knows that problems do not solve each other, they do not solve themselves just by getting them deteriorate, on the contrary, they get worse and worse.But we have learned that what is necessary to stop this deterioration process is to get people together at a table, put your papers on the table but don't put conditions down.And here we find, indeed, that there are the wounds of the past which are still not healed and which one can appreciate psychologically but the wisdom of the politicians today is such that we are optimistic and I think there is real room for optimism on both sides.

09:52
On the responsibility of the local authorities for the protection of the cultural heritage

The real responsibility for protecting a monument in a village lies with the authorities of the village and I am going further and lies within the handsof the local population, of each citizen and that is where UNESCO believes that and educational campaign is necessary to bring peace in te minds of men.This is the central concern of UNESCO whose constitution starts with the following words: "It is in the minds of men that peace must be constructed."

10:41
On the urgency for starting awareness raising campaign among citizens of Kosovo for protection of cultural monuments

Every day that passes by is without starting this campaign is a day lost because it gives the extremists the occasion to heat the climate and what is necessary in the Balkans and worldwide is to cool down the climate of political dissents. You don't solve problems by throwing bombs, you solve problems by destroying bombs and, secondly, by making the producers of bombs and those who handle the bombs to fold their hands, not necessarily saying that they should pray, but that could help also.

11:28
Issue of protection of cultural heritage on the agenda of future Prishtina Belgrade dialogue

I know it is on the agenda and I hope it will be dealt with as a matter of priority and this is not only my hope this is also, of course, the hope of the intellectual community and the people concerned and the issues we are discussing. I know the Director General would very much like to have the cultural agenda raised to a priority point but then UNESCO is not a supranational body- it is there to try and give a helping hand, constitute a forum and in the best of cases act as a catalyzor. So we will have to leave this with the wisdom of the politicians who are the judge.

12:19
On the adoption by UNESCO of a Declaration for the intentional distraction of cultural property

There are two things: you speak of the responsibility for the protection of cultural heritage in Kosovo. Constitutionally speaking Kosovo is a part of Serbia. If you look at the text of the Security Council Resolution 1244 adopted in June 1999 you find that in one of the first paragraphs there is a reference to the non-violability, the territorial integrity of then Yugoslavia. But everybody knows, of course, that Belgrade has no presence in those who run the country these days, this is the government, this is UNMIK. So,UNMIK has a great responsibility , the responsibility has unfortunately not been clearly defined. The resoluiton 1244 is a very complex text and is not very easy to apply this text because, let me be quite plain, it was not very clear. It was drafted in a hurry, it was adopted in a hurry, and now politicians have to live with it.As far as your question concerns about UNESCO, UNESCO's intention to adopt a resolution against the willful destruction of cultural property, yes this is indeed a major agenda item for the 32. session of the general conference which starts next week.And in my view this is , could be a major step ahead in UNESCO's normative action, to adopt a declaration which very clearly puts the responsibility of intentional destruction of cultural property in the camp of the local or national authorities. It is no longer according to this very useful declaration, it is no longer possible for a government to say it happened on my territory but I couldn't do anything about it, they will have to do something about it, because, don't forget, when they say, cultural heritage and cultural property or protection of cultural monuments you have to speak with respect because you have to respect those who can , who are your fathers, your grandfathers, your forefathers and who did all these beautiful things you have to respect and you agree to care for them.

Item 2: INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL LEIGH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION - EXTERNAL RELATIONS

CROATIA

15:42
On the individual approach of the EU's Stabilisation and Association Process

The situation in each country in the western Balkans is entirely distinct. Each one has its own history,each one has its own strengths and weaknesses and the process regarding Croatia was based on particular conditions prevailing in Croatia.Which are, I think,to any observer, clearly distinct from those in Serbia and Montenegro and on that basis the Commission recommended that the negotiations be carried out for an SAA Agreement and such and Agreement has, in fact, been signed and is now awaiting ratification.When I was a child, I was taught that comparisons are odious and I don't think that anything is to be gained by comparing the precise situation in one country against another.A basic principle of the EU has always been that each country proceeds towards the EU according to its own merits, its own strenthgs and weaknesses in the different fields that are needed in order to move closer to the EU and that is the case for the western Balkans as well.

16:54
On the Copenhaguen criteria applying for Western Balkans

So, we take as our basis the Copenhagen Criteria of 1993 as well as some of the particular criteria arising from the peace process of the 1990s, the Dayton Agreement and we look sector by sector at the extent to which the country meets those political criteria, economic criteria, legal criteria. The approach that we've always taken in the past has been to say that it is necessary for a country first to satisfy the political criteria:democracy, rule of law, protection of human rights, minority rights in order to begin accession negotiations. This has been our consistent policy with all the countries that have applied for membership in the EU and it is also a position with regard to Croatia. So, one can say, therefore, that the opinion on Croatia's application for membership will be drawn up on the basis of exactly the same criteria, taking into account the particular circumstances of the western Balkans as with all other candidate countries.

18:07
On the of the EC questionnaire for Croatia

Well, Prime Minister Racan will be handing over the replies to the questionnaire to President Prodi, I believe, on the 9 October 2003 so I wouldn't comment until I have seen these replies, but in the normal course of events we have a very close relationship with Croatia as with the other countries in the region and should it be that we require further information in any given area then there is a procedure whereby our experts will be in touch with Croat experts, will indicate the kind of further information we need, a dialogue will be created and I trust that the information will be forthcoming.

18:43
Key political issues for the EC opinion on the Croatia's application for membership

Because of the particluar circumstances in the western Balkans we are also looking to be sure that the International Court of Justice in the Hague, the Tribunal on the Fomer Yugoslavia is convinced that there has been sufficient cooperation and we are also looking to ensure that adequate provision has been made for refugees who seek to return to Croatia; so these are the key political issues that we will be looking at in the Opinion.

19:16
On the significance of ICTY for the EC reply on Croatia's application for membership

It's really for the Hague Tribunal to inform the international community, first of all the United Nations Security Council of the view of the Tribunal concerning Croatia's cooperation with it and we will be extremely attentive to the view of the President of the Tribunal and of the Chief Prosecutor in our own judgment as to Croatia's cooperation with the Tribunal.Yes, in our opinion we will be loking at a number of political areas,as I mentioned to you, including cooperation with the Hgaue Tribunal and our view concerning this cooperation will be influenced by our judgment of the behaviour of the President of the Court and the prosecutor themselves as reported to the Security Council, this is one of the issues that we will be looking at.

20:06
On the ratfication by all member states of the Croatia's SAA

I think it's very important that Croatia moves towards the EU step by step and certainly the SAA is a first important step towards membership.Therefore, I do think that it is particularly important that this agreement be negotiated and signed, be ratified and that all our Member States should be statisfied that the conditions are there to permit them to ratify the Agreement. You know these Agreements are, what we call in the EU,what we call mixed Agreements. They are so important and so wide-ranging that it's important both the EU itself as an entity and also each of our Member States should be party to them, because their activities are so wide, it brings in both the Member States and the EU as such, therefore it is indeed very important that all the Mmeber States should have ratified the agreement.

21:03
On the differences between Slovenia and Croatia and the message of the EU on that matter

I certainly would not wish to dramatize the differences between Slovenia and Croatia that have been visible recently concerning Croatia's desire to establish an exclusive economic zone. I think the most important thing is that this matter should not be dealt with unilateraly but to the greatest extent possible should be the subject of dialogue, first of all between the two states themselves but also in a wider Adriatic context with other countries in the region. There are some forthcoming discussions taking place in Venice which may facilitate that process. The message of the EU on this matter is not that we wish ourselves to become involved in the details which indeed concern Croatia and Slovenia primarily but that they should tackle this problem in a spirit of good neighbourly relations which is fundamental to the EU, rather than the spirit of unilateralism. Thus, we are pleased that last week or earlier this week, I forget,earlier this week, indeed, discussion took place in Brussels, we are pleased that Slovenia decided to send its Ambassador back to Zagreb as a sign of its willingness to pursue dialogue and we have really encouraged both parties to view this issue as a subject of dialogue rather than one for any kind of dramatic demonstrations or unilateral action and I think they are both seeking to resolve the issue in this spirit. It's true that there is remaining demarcation issue between Slovenia and Croatia and I think that we have always made it clear that from our point of view it would be desirable for this issue to be resolved as soon as possible.

KOSOVO

22:53
On the recent developments in Kosovo, the future Belgrade-Prishtina dialogue and the EC role as facilitator in this dialogue

I think that recent developments have been very encouraging. You may have followed the discussions in New York recently which, together with the appointment of the new Special representative, Mr. Holkeri have given a new impulse to dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. I think this is one of the very interesting new developments that we have seen.Of course, it would begin cautiously focussing on a number of technical areas of strong mutual interest. But the fact that we have a new and active Special Representative I think, indicates to us that there is progress. I don't wish to minimize the complexity of the situation wether politically or economically but those who have been following the Kosovo situation closely I believe, feel that there is now new movement and that all of those who have an interest in the stability in the region wish to contribute to that, for example, the European Commission today is willing to act as a facilitator in certain aspects of this dialogue. So we do feel that things are now modestly beginning to move in the right direction.

24:09
On the concrete work for the agenda for dialogue

I think that we have already touched on this matter: first thing is first. I think it is very important that the decision should have been taken to begin the dialogue.This is what is on the table at the moment, we are all focussing on the efforts of the Special Representative, Mr. Holkeri to get this dialogue going and as I've said, in the Commission, we are willing to support this. And it seems to us that concrete work in specific areas such as energy, environment,transport and so on are the crucial considerations. This is what is on the Agenda at the moment and this seems to me to be the top priority to get the talks going. I think that what we want to see in all areas are commitments and practical results and what we've seen so often in the past is that one thing leads to another when a process begins, when dialogue takes place rather than a lack of dialogue, where concrete steps are taken,for example in areas like transport and energy, one thing may lead to another and when we see the process then begginning to take on momentum, that is what we all hope for. But I think right now at the beginning of the process, in fact, before the first meetings are held next month in October it would be very hard to attach a time schedule to this process.

25:54
On the way the international organisations should participate in the dialogue

I think the dialogue should be as concrete as possible, it should focus on specific subjects,and I am sure once the parties get into the discussion of these topics, they themselves will wish to decide, for example,in energy and transport that certain results should be achieved within a particular time period. It seems to me like a normal working method.But we certainly haven't reached that stage yet. It may mean, for example, that if there is to be a working group established between the two sides in a given area, let me say electricity, just as an example, it could be chaired by a facilitator from the international community, either one of the international financial institutions or the European Commission. We could chair some such meetings if the two parties would find that help. My impression is that various international actors, international financial institutions and organisations would be eager to assist in this process as the parties found themselves that helpful so if this process begins to take on momentum I can imagine that there migt be different working groups chaired by the different representatives of the international community.

26:44
On the technical areas important for the beginning of the dialogue

What we are thinking about now is a certain number of technical areas which are particularly important in a situation of previous tensions and breakdown in communications.The important thing is to begin the process in areas where both sides see a clear, mutual interest and once the dialogue builds up in these areas I am sure the parties themselves will decide which other areas should be included in the dialogue.

27:17
Cutaways Charlemagne Building in Brussels, HQ of the European Commission's External Relations Directorate

28:10
Michael Leigh in his office in Brussels

END OF TRANSMISSION
28:36

For more information on the "Wider Europe" task force headed by Michael Leigh, please visit:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/we/intro/ip03_963.htm