"Preservation" of Serbian religious and cultural-historical monuments

Kosovo Serb home in Mitrovica attacked
http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/rts041506.htm

Serb church vandalized in Kosovo
http://www.slobodanmilosevic.org/news/mina041606.htm
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http://www.kosovo.net/news/archive/2006/April_17/1.html

KiM Info Newsletter 17-04-06Frank Wisner visits Visoki Decani MonasteryAmbassador Wisner stated that the purpose of his visit to Kosovo was to learn more about the situation under which various communities were living in order to better determine needs that need to be taken into consideration while resolving the future status of Kosovo. Bishop Teodosije emphasized that in addition to institutional protection for the Serb people and the return of displaced persons to their homes it is also necessary to find appropriate models for the protection of monasteries and other Serbian religious and cultural-historical monuments. The protection of holy shrines and cultural treasures should serve to bring us even closer in our responsibility for their protection instead of becoming an obstacle to reconciliation and common life among communities, concluded the BishopKIM Info ServiceDecani, April 15, 2006U.S. special envoy for Kosovo status Frank Wisner visited Visoki Decani Monastery today accompanied by the head of the U.S. office in Pristina Philip Goldberg and Steven Gee. Ambassador Wisner first visited Prizren, followed by the families of victims of war in the village of Mala Krusa/Krusha e Vogel near Orahovac, and after the visit to Visoki Decani the U.S. delegation continued its tour to Belo Polje near Pec, where they visited Serb returnees. Ambassador Wisner and his associated were received in Visoki Decani by the monastery's abbot, Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, Fr. Sava and Fr. Nektarije, the director of KIM Radio from Caglavica.During the meeting, which was held in the monastery library, Ambassador Wisner stated that the purpose of his visit to Kosovo was to learn more about the situation under which various communities were living in order to better determine needs that need to be taken into consideration while resolving the future status of Kosovo. He demonstrated considerable understanding for the protection of Serbian Orthodox monasteries and other cultural-historical monuments, emphasizing that the U.S. Administration is firm in its determination that these sites must be preserved for the future. Ambassador Wisner also emphasized that the protection of monuments is not just the responsibility of the international community but also the local ones, which should be more active in their efforts to establish mutual confidence.Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan sincerely thanked Ambassador Wisner for his understanding of the present situation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the region. He emphasized that in addition to institutional protection for the Serb people and the return of displaced persons to their homes it is also necessary to find appropriate models for the protection of monasteries and other Serbian religious and cultural-historical monuments. The Bishop pointed to the example of the Special Zoning Area (SZA) around Visoki Decani Monastery as a model that could be implemented in other locations, too. He explained that the SZA represents an attempt to preserve the monastery and its immediate environment, which represent a unified whole, in an appropriate fashion. He emphasized that the Serbian Orthodox Church does not want the protection its holy shrines to unnecessarily politicized. The protection of holy shrines and cultural treasures should serve to bring us even closer in our responsibility for their protection instead of becoming an obstacle to reconciliation and common life among communities, concluded Bishop Teodosije.After the meeting Ambassador Wisner and members of the U.S. delegation toured the monastery and learned more about the activities of the monks. Upon seeing the church Mr. Wisner said that he was deeply impressed by the beauty of the church and the artistic treasures guarded in Visoki Decani Monastery, which are the treasures of the entire civilized world.Prior to leaving Visoki Decani Monastery Ambassador Wisner made a statement for representatives of the Albanian and Serbian media in the monastery courtyard.