SERBIA: Restoration of Serb Orthodox monasteries destroyed during Albanian riots, continues with some close to completion

Ethnic Albanian workers in Kosovo are putting the final touches to the 19th century St Nicholas Orthodox church in the capital of the ethnically tense province. The work is part of a huge reconstruction project, led by the Council of Europe, to restore more than 30 Serb Orthodox monasteries and churches that were torched in Albanian riots over two days in 2004. Centuries of Orthodox heritage was lost as a result. Under pressure to prove their commitment to the rights of Kosovo's Serb minority, Kosovo's Albanian leadership has set aside millions of euros to complete the restoration work. The West is likely to push for Kosovo's independence from Serbia sometime next year, and the restoration project is seen as crucial to fostering ethnic trust. "This is extremely important programme for social integration, for community rebuilding of communities, and also building confidence between the Albanian and Serbian populations as well as ethnic minority groups," said the Council of Europe's Emma Carmichael, who chairs the Reconstruction Implementation Commission (RIC). The breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo has been run by the United Nations since 1999, after NATO bombing to drive out Serb forces accused of atrocities and ethnic cleansing of Albanian civilians. Sporadic violence continued in the province, the worst of which came in March 2004, when Albanians enraged at continued economic and political limbo in Kosovo rioted, overrunning Serb enclaves, torching homes and churches. NATO peacekeepers were slow to react. Carmichael said they hope to have the major reconstruction work done by the end of next year. "The major reconstruction works will be completed and they will be functional and that is, that is the main purpose for the Commission," she said. The 100,000 remaining Serbs in Kosovo are impatient to see their places of worship restored. Many see Kosovo as the medieval seat of their Orthodox religion. But Carmichael said there would still be much to do to restore the centuries-old frescoes and wall-painting at many of the sites. "On some of the churches there are wall painting programmes, conservation programmes that will take longer and to finish that next year wouldn't be the right approach to take because it is sensitive work," Carmichael said. Negotiations on Kosovo's final status began in February and the territory expects to win independence in 2007.

ITN Source | December 7, 2006

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