Kosovo Tensions Put More Than People at Risk

ABC News ^ | June 15, 2006 | By MONICA ELLENA

[Bokababe]

A picturesque valley in the western province of Kosovo is home to the largest and most urgently preserved monastery in Serbia. The 14th century Visoki Decani monastery has not only survived the passage of time but also the ravages of war. Even though around half the Serb population fled a wave of revenge attacks after the war, the 100,000 who stayed are still targeted by sporadic violence. Stoning of police and attacks on individuals are not uncommon.

In 1998, Slobodan Milosevic, who was president at the time, led troops against Albanian forces in an effort to reclaim parts of Kosovo. The following year, NATO airstrikes in Kosovo ended the war when the United Nations intervened, offering a treaty between the two sides.

But ongoing tensions and violence between Kosovo's Serbian and Albanian populations don't simply affect the people who live there -- there's also a real physical threat to that region's centuries-old churches and monasteries.

If you wish to admire the Visoki Decani monastery, you must first pass a heavily armored military checkpoint and a thick 600-year-old wall. Inside lies the pearl of the Serbian Orthodox Church, such an important symbol of an endangered cultural heritage that its protection is at the top of the agenda of the latest diplomatic effort in the Balkans.

[Bokababe]

At last, a news network notices!

[F-117A]

But ongoing tensions and violence between Kosovo's Serbian and Albanian populations don't simply affect the people who live there -- there's also a real physical threat to that region's centuries-old churches and monasteries.

Ah, sorry! The violence is NOT "BETWEEN" the Serbs and Albanians. The violence is by the Albanians AGAINST the Serbs (and other minorities)!

[CheyennePress]

Serbia is absolutely beautiful, for those how haven't seen it. The people there are not happy with NATO, and for obvious reasons.

The US is going to remain quiet about this. Albania has sent troops to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq. Not many, but enough to keep the US off of their back and out of the conflict in the Balkans. I'm willing to be that's a calculated move. Maybe not, but I simply just don't trust Islam. Ever at this point. I've seen too much (some of it with my own eyes and ears) to let my guard down at this point.

[A. Pole]

[...]
In 2004, UNESCO listed Visoki Decani on the World Heritage List, citing its frescoes as "one of the most valued examples of the so-called Palaeologan renaissance in Byzantine painting" and "a valuable record of the life in the 14th century."
[...]
The church of Bogorodica Ljeviska, completed by King Milutin in 1307, was burned down by a mob. Slobodan Curcic, professor of art and architecture at Princeton University and UNESCO consultant, considered it "one of the finest examples of late Byzantine architecture anywhere. For Curcic, "the destruction of these monuments are in fact acts against Byzantine cultural heritage."
[...]

 Decani

[kosta50]

"the destruction of these monuments are in fact acts against Byzantine cultural heritage"

Not just Byzantine, but Serbian Byzantine, which is why it's okay as far as the "international community" is ocncerned. Any other wonton desrtuction of ethnic heritage is considered genocide according to the Un Charter.

But, ourtage is so ewhat selective...we are all equal, except that some are "more equal."

[kronos77]

New ping list :)
congrats bokababe!

[Bokababe]

The only thing that gets me about this article is that the thrust of it is "save the beautiful buildings" -- as though churches mean more than the Christians living there!

[FormerLib]

I wonder if our resident Serb-hating Dhimmis can tell us why destroying ancient Christian monasteries is a good thing?

If they had a shred of integrity, they'd defend such things seeing as they have cheered for it to happen for years now.

[G. Stolyarov II]

The Kosovo missions that the Clinton administration waged seem to have quite a few unintended negative consequences. One of those is the rise in power of savage, militant Albanian Islamist guerillas who commit atrocities against Serbs -- atrocities as vile as those which Milosevic committed against Albanian civilians. The U. N. Kosovo campaign was too simplistic in considering Milosevic alone to be the villain; it should have cracked down on the Albanian guerillas as well. Then we would not have had the threat of Islamist fanatics endangering historical and cultural monuments.

I am
G. Stolyarov II
http://www.panasianbiz.com
http://www.thebizofknowledge.com
http://www.zhonghuarising.com
http://www.risingsunofnihon.com
http://rationalargumentator.com
http://rationalbusinessjournal.rationalargumentator.com