UNESCO: Kosovo Experts' Meeting: Establishes

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 008582 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SCUL CJAN EAID YI UNESCO EUN SUBJECT: UNESCO: Kosovo Experts' Meeting: Establishes Basis for Working with UNMIK; Lists 13 Priority Restoration Projects; USG to contribute USD 1 million ¶1. (U) Summary. A 9 December UNESCO Experts' Meeting on Kosovo resulted in an agreed list of 13 priorities (seven Orthodox, six Muslim) for cultural restoration and the basis for a cooperative working relationship with UNMIK. The substantive part of the Expert Meeting, which took place in the presence of reps from UNMIK, UNESCO and the Council of Europe, was open only to the experts. Per a 19 December USG-UNESCO Agreement, USG will contribute 1 million USD to the restoration of eight of the 13 sites recommended by the experts. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Amcit Ambassador Larry Rossin, the Principal Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Kosovo, told poloff 9 December that his UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) delegation held a good meeting with UNESCO Culture Sector head Mounir Bouchenaki 8 December. Rossin reported that Bouchenaki had acknowledged UNMIK's leading role under UNSC Resolution 1244. (Note. An UNMIK rep reported that Bouchenaki also reiterated UNMIK's leading role during the December 9 Expert Meeting itself. End note.) ¶3. (SBU) Bouchenaki also told Rossin 8 December that UNESCO was determined to avoid the political grandstanding that had marred the 13 May Donor's Conference. Accordingly, at the 9 December Expert Meeting, UNESCO Director General (DG) Koichoro Matsuura opened the meeting with a speech reiterating UNESCO's commitment to restoring cultural heritage in Kosovo and in all post-conflict areas. Bouchenaki then introduced the experts (see list para. 7, below) and announced that there would be a coffee break, to be followed by the technical meeting, which would be open only to the experts and the UNMIK, UNESCO and Council of Europe representatives. The Greek and Serbian Ambassadors grumbled about this, but the restriction held. (Note. The DG has wide latitude under UNESCO Rules concerning classification of meetings to set the parameters of "Category VI" Expert Meetings. End note.) ¶4. (SBU) According to an UNMIK report, after the coffee break, UNMIK Principal Deputy Rossin was the first speaker. He explained that under UNSC Resolution 1244, UNMIK had the responsibility to ensure the protection and preservation of cultural heritage in Kosovo, along with the Provisional Institutions of Self Government established pursuant to the Constitutional Framework, including the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS). Rossin continued that the Reconstruction Implementation Commission (RIC) must be involved as well. (Note. Rossin had told DCM Koss and poloff 8 December that the RIC, chaired by the Council of Europe and including reps from the Serbian Orthodox Church, the MCYS and relevant Serb church authorities, is an example of successful cooperation among religious and ethnic groups involved in Kosovo. End note.) ¶5. (SBU) Rossin told poloff 9 December that the UNESCO undertaking to involve the RIC would likely need reinforcing, given the opposition to the RIC from some in Serbia and the leading role of long-time Serb UNESCO Ambassador Dragoljub Najman in UNESCO affairs. ¶6. (U) The technical work proceeded smoothly, according to UNMIK reps. The experts recommended that seven Orthodox and six Islamic monuments in Kosovo should be the first to be restored over the next two years. The sites recommended by the experts for restoration are: Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour and Church of Bogorica Ljeviska and Hammam Mehmet Pasha (Prizren); Church of Saint Sava and Hamman (Mitrovic/Kosovska Mitrovica); Church of the Presentation of the Virgin (Lipjan/Lipljan); Church of Saint Archangel Michael (Shtime/Stimlje); Church of Saint Petka (Viti/Vitina),Budisavci Monastery (Klin/Klina); Red Mosque (Pej/Pec); Hadum Mosque (Gjakov/Dakovica); Dean/Decani Mosque; Hammam of Ali Bey (Vushtrri/Vucitrn). ¶7. (U) Per a 19 December USG-UNESCO agreements, the USG will contribute USD 1 million to the restoration projects of eight of these sites. The eight projects are: --Restoration of the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin, Lipjan/Lipljan, Lipjan/Lipljan municipality --Restoration/Reconstruction of the St. Sava Church in Kosovska Mitrovica --Restoration of Hadum Mosque in, Gjakove / Djakovica Municipality --Restoration of the Church of St. Archangel Michael, Shtime/Stimlje Municipality --Restoration of Budisavci Monastery, Budisavc/Budisavci, Klina Municipality --Restoration of Mosque, Decan/Decani Municipality --Partial reconstruction of the Church of St. Petka, tka, Viti/Vitina --Partial - Urgent restoration of Hamam, Mitrovice, Kosovska Mitrovica ¶8. (U) The experts are: Jose Maria BALLESTER (Spain), Azedine BESCHAOUCH (Tunisia) Alessandro BIANCHI (Italy) Ros BORATH (Cambodia) Evangelia CHATZITRYFONOS (Greece) Slobodan CURIC (USA) Bernard FONQUERNIE (France) Branislav KRSTIC (Serbia and Montenegro) Saleh LAMEI (Egypt),Bisserka PENKOVA (Bulgaria) and Menmet IBRAHIMGIL (Turkey). ¶9. (SBU) Comment. UNESCO technical expert missions have made progress, despite politically charged atmospheres, as, for example, in the Old City of Jerusalem. If the DG wisely uses his power to appoint experts and to set the rules of procedure, he can pave the way for keeping politics out. Unfortunately, however, not all UNESCO experts meetings are de-politicized. End comment. Koss