EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/403

(2004/C 88 E/0409)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2359/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(17 July 2003)

Subject: Violation of religious freedom in Kosovo

Given that:

— on 27 June 2003 on a visit to Pristina the Secretary-General of Nato, George Robertson, called on the Kosovo Albanians to be more tolerant and to build a multi-ethnic society;

— on the same day graves in the Orthodox cemetery in Kosovska Vitina were desecrated and the Orthodox church of St Nicolas in Pristina, from which the Nato peace-keeping force KFOR had withdrawn its protection at the end of last year, was attacked;

— on 28 March 2003 unknown individuals shot at two Spanish KFOR sentries, who were guarding the Orthodox convent of Gorioc near Istok;

— on 31 May 2003 a grenade was thrown at the Greek KFOR checkpoint protecting the church of St Czar Uros in Urosevac in the south of the country;

— the United nations mission, UNMIK, and KFOR are trying to find those responsible for the latest incidents, but in the last three years there have not been any arrests in connection with the hundreds of similar attacks against Orthodox churches and cemeteries;

— Kosovo and Metohija are areas suffering the aftermath of war, where four years after the end of the conflict it has not yet been possible to restore the places sacred to Christians.

In view of the enormous sums the European Union is investing in Kosovo:

— can the Commission say whether it is aware of the events mentioned above; and

— what measures might constitute a serious and effective means of inducing the Kosovar administration to respect religious freedom?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 August 2003)

The protection of Serb Orthodox religious sites in Kosovo is a matter of considerable concern to the international community. The Commission strongly condemns the attacks that have taken place against such sites and welcomes the fact that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR) devotes considerable troop resources to the protection of patrimonial sites in Kosovo.

The Commission supports the efforts of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo to establish democratic institutions which should pave the way for reconciliation of all communities. This is the key to decreasing levels of violence and to building a multi-ethnic and tolerant Kosovo.

More specifically, the Commission has encouraged the international civil administration in Kosovo (the UN Mission in Kosovo – UNMIK) and the Provisional Institutions for Self-government (PISG) to include, as part of their priorities for public reconstruction and investment, the funding for the repair of the damaged sites under the Kosovo Consolidated Budget to which the Community contributes. This measure would underline the importance of this issue and would foster more ownership of the political leadership and the Kosovo society to address this problem.

The Commission does not therefore itself intend separately to undertake the reconstruction, with EC funding, of any religious buildings in Kosovo. However, it is worth mentioning that, under the initiative of President Prodi and the support of the Member of the Commission responsible for Education and Culture, the Commission is co-financing an ‘Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan (IRPP)/Joint action for a survey of the architectural and archaeological heritage (including religious heritage of all denominations)’ and the establishment of a priority list of monuments and sites in need of urgent conservation/restoration in the Balkans. This Joint Action is being developed within the Regional Programme for Cultural and Natural Heritage in South East Europe, implemented by the Council of Europe between 2003 and 2005 and will be a very useful source of information to promote the involvement of authorities and donors and international agencies in this field.