OSCE Mission publishes report on protection of cultural heritage in Kosovo

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 18 July 2022 — The OSCE Mission launched today its latest thematic report Protection of Cultural Heritage in Kosovo, which reviews current practices and offers recommendations to relevant institutions.

Covering the period between 2014 and 2020, the report concludes that the effective protection of cultural heritage in Kosovo should not be limited to physical restoration and that a broader approach is needed. Inclusive management, imaginative spatial planning, awareness raising, and training for  cultural heritage personnel are also required to ensure the preservation of cultural heritage.

The report provides insight into the policy, legal and administrative frameworks of cultural heritage protection and analyses the close interconnectivity between heritage protection, security, infrastructure and spatial planning issues. It notes that, while many provisions are already in place, full implementation requires a better coordinated approach. The report also highlights the need to amend the Law on Cultural Heritage and fully align primary and secondary legislation to ensure a more coherent approach to cultural heritage.

“The OSCE Mission has consistently supported efforts to protect and promote the rich and varied cultural legacy in Kosovo, as the effective preservation of cultural heritage is important for all communities,” said Ambassador Michael Davenport, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. “We believe the report we launched today, its insights and recommendations, will help the institutions in their efforts to preserve and protect cultural heritage for future generations.”

Addressing the participants at the launch event, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Hajrulla Çeku highlighted the importance of cultural heritage protection as a priority of the Government. “We have an extraordinary cultural wealth, which is a universal value and key to creating social interaction and overcoming differences between communities,” he said. “We are committed to placing culture and cultural heritage at the centre of the fundamental principles of coexistence, mutual respect and development of a democratic society.”

The report lists a number of recommendations to key institutions to enhance the protection and valorization of cultural heritage, including: to introduce management plans for cultural heritage sites, to conduct heritage impact assessments for planned interventions, to adopt a more inclusive definition of cultural heritage, and to enhance the resilience of cultural heritage sites against climate change and intentional destruction.