WRITTEN QUESTION E-2755/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Bombing of a medieval orthodox church in Kosovo.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Kosovo, Orthodoxy, UNO, administrative structures, church, feasibility study, heritage protection, war damage

C 113 E/168

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

(2001/C 113 E/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2755/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Bombing of a medieval orthodox church in Kosovo

(1 September 2000)

In its answer to my previous question (E-0015/00) (1)

On 17 July 2000 a medieval orthodox church in Kosovo Polje near Pristina was destroyed when a bomb
the Commission informed me of
exploded.
(cid:145)the establishment of a high-level group of experts in the field of cultural heritage with the aim to propose
solutions to problems arising from the damage and destruction of cultural property in Kosovo(cid:146) and
(cid:145)identify in detail the damage and destruction of cultural property(cid:146).

Given the continued violence in Kosovo, which is still destroying cultural monuments, does the
Commission take the view that a more urgent response is required than that described in the answer to
my previous question? With regard to the church referred to above, will the Commission announce its
intention to restore the building, so as to provide a concrete demonstration of its disapproval of vandalism
and intolerance in Kosovo?

(1) OJ C 303 E, 24.10.2000, p. 124.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 2000)

As stated in the reply given by the Commission to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s written question E-0015/00,
following the conclusion of a covenant with the Council of Europe, a high level group of experts was to be
established. The aims are, after a survey, to identify in detail the damage and destruction of cultural
property, mainly architectural and archaeological heritage (monuments and sites) of all ethnic and religious
groups throughout Kosovo; to establish a list of priorities for intervention based on the survey; and to
assist in setting up teams of experts from local, regional and federal levels, representing all ethnic and
religious groups of the region, who will draw up feasibility studies and intervention plans for the priorities
established in by the survey. The conclusions drawn by the group of experts are expected by the end of the
year.

The Commission will share the results of this study with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo. The
possibility of restoring the church to which the Honourable Member refers will be decided by the United
Nations interim administration of Kosovo (UNMIK) only after the conclusion of the survey and on the
basis of the priorities of intervention that will be established in its public reconstruction investment
programme for 2001 and will be submitted for consideration of the international donors involved in
Kosovo.

Due to the pressing investment needs in infrastructures and services vital for the welfare of the population
of Kosovo, the Commission does not intend at this stage to undertake the reconstruction of religious
buildings with Community funding.

(2001/C 113 E/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2759/00

by Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission

(2 August 2000)

Subject: Unreliability of the accounts of the Italian public authorities

The consolidated treasury accounts and the statement of revenue and expenditure of the public authorities
for 1997 and 1998 contained in the Annual Treasury Report presented by the Minister for the Treasury to
the Italian Parliament on 4 April 2000 differ substantially from those contained in the report presented on
18 March 1999 and are in contradiction with the General Financial Statement of the Italian State for 1997
approved by Parliament, without any note of explanation.