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Naslovna » blogs » Jasmina Tesanovic

Ženska Mirovna Koalicija

Jasmina Tesanovic (25 Maj, 2006 - 09:17)

Nova runda pregovora u Beču o Kosovu, kao da ne znamo da će sve da se završi arbitražom kad tad, Altisari se sprema a i mi bogami. Ako vas mrzi da čitati samo da znate da postoji Ženska Mirovna Koalicija, Žene u Crnom iz Srbije i Mreža žena sa Kosova, koja ovaj put kaže, nije reč o crkvama već o ljudskim pravima, nije reč o teritorijama već o ljudima...Pozvani su političari, da nam se priključe pod uslovom da se civilno ponašaju što će reći da ćemo ostati same...

PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kosova Women’s Network Women in Black Network

Igballe Rogova Stasa Zajovic

Executive Director Coordinator

Tel: +381 (0)38 245 850 Tel: +381 (0)11 2623225

Cell: +377 (0)44 111 965 Cell: + 381 (0)63 8467777

E-mail: igo@womensnetwork.org E-mail:

www.womensnetwork.org www.zeneucrnom.org 

PRISHTINA/BELGRADE

23 May 2006

Women from Kosovo, Serbia form Coalition to Monitor Status Talks

Coalition Issues Joint Statement on Negotiations for Preservation, Protection of Cultural Heritage

Women from Kosovo and Serbia have established a Women’s Peace Coalition to monitor negotiations regarding Kosovo’s final political status. They issued a joint statement to the respective negotiation teams and international decision-makers regarding the “preservation and protection of cultural heritage,” which will be discussed as part of the negotiation process on 23 May in Vienna.

The statement called upon political decision-makers to:

I. Respect cultural monuments as part of a universal cultural heritage

• All cultural monuments – including churches, cathedrals, and mosques – do not only have value for one religion or ethnicity, so they should not be labeled as the exclusive property of one ethnicity or religious community.

• All cultural monuments should be protected, not because of their ethnic and religious significance, but because of their artistic, historic, and cultural value.

• Cultural monuments in Kosovo should be preserved as cultural heritage sites.

• A comprehensive history of the area, one that is not ethnically or religiously exclusive, must be collected. For example, Visoki Decani and Sinan-Pasha Mosque should have the same treatment and protection in regions and towns like Prizren. 

  • I. Act responsibly in relation to cultural heritage

  • The destruction that has occurred to cultural heritage sites in the past can be prevented in the future if cultural and religious sites are disassociated from politics. Therefore, we recommend:

    • • The geographic location, preservation, and protection of cultural heritage sites should not be politicized.

    • Politicians and decision-makers in Serbia and Kosovo, as responsible leaders, should not use cultural heritage sites as instruments for gaining political clout, as this will deepen divides between ethnic communities and lead to violence rather than cultivate peace, security, and understanding through a mutually respected heritage. 

    • Cultural sites should not be used as political tools towards the homogenization of communities in Kosovo. This will lead to the isolation and division of communities, which could contribute to future violence. Instead, cultural sites should be considered part of a heterogeneous history that involves all ethnic groups and be used to promote joint ownership in communities’ inter-ethnic heritage as well as their shared future.

  • I. Preserve the future of cultural heritage in Kosovo

    • Maintain the existing preservation policies in Kosovo, according to which cultural heritage sites are identified, developed, and managed by local authorities or the central government (which determines the level of protection afforded to each site). Heritage protecting activities should be performed by professionals employed by local and regional agencies, as per European declarations on this issue. 

    • Involve all interested communities in decisions regarding the establishment of protected heritage sites.  If the site is located on territory belonging to two or more communities in Kosovo, the interested communities should jointly oversee its protection, regardless of who owns the site.

    • Establishing independent professional organizations to manage heritage sites owned by religious communities in Kosovo.  This should occur for financial and cultural reasons. Direct religious oversight would lead to further degradation of cultural heritage.

    • Including the wider community in Kosovo in protecting cultural heritage through public debates on plans for certain city zones, suburbs, and surrounding areas.

  • The coalition concluded by emphasizing that churches, cathedrals, mosques, and other cultural sites are linked to the cultural heritage, history, and communities of all ethnic groups, and thus all ethnic groups have the right to share, preserve, and protect these heritage sites. 
  • The statement resulted from a meeting between Women’s Peace Coalition members in Prishtina on 7 May 2006.
  • Coalition members said that political decision-makers in Serbia and Kosovo had failed to involve women as equal partners in political and social developments, especially in regards to negotiation talks concerning the final political status of Kosovo. They urged their governments to increase information-sharing in regards to this process.
  • Following initial discussions, the Women in Black Network and the Kosova Women’s Network launched the Women’s Peace Coalition in May 2006 as an independent citizen’s initiative founded on women’s solidarity that crosses national, ethnic, and religious borders, barriers, and divides. 
  • The Women’s Peace Coalition strives towards just and sustainable peace and works for the inclusion of women in peace building processes as equal partners, stressing the fact that women are not victims, but survivors of war and dynamic actors in peace movements.
  • The Women’s Peace Coalition advocates strongly for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and the advancement of women’s political, economic and social position, while opposing country-specific tendencies and regressive processes detrimental to its goals.
  • The Women’s Peace Coalition works with and includes all allies relevant to its cause, whilst maintaining its autonomy. To achieve this it forms alliances with those who accept its principles.
  • * * *
  • For more information or to schedule an interview with a member of the Women’s Peace Coalition, please contact the offices listed above. Please find the full text of the statement attached.



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