Doc. 8602
20 December 1999

Cultural situation in Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mrs Poptodorova and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       Culture and education are amongst the first victims in any conflict: the war in Kosovo made no exception to this rule. At the same time, culture and education are a most efficient long-term remedy for the prevention of such conflicts as they help to eradicate the stereotypes, prejudices and intolerance which lead to them.

2.       The educational system in Kosovo needs urgent, massive support, not only because of the destruction of facilities and the lack of teachers but, above all, because of the ongoing segregation of children and students of different ethnic origin and because of the potential risk of developing educational policies based on nationalist rhetoric and hate speech.

3.       Another area of great concern, where urgent action is needed, is the protection of the rich cultural heritage. According to the Serbian Orthodox webpage more than seventy churches and monasteries have been damaged or destroyed and much more is at risk. The Islamic religious architecture has also been damaged. Precise figures are difficult to give but any assessment of damage and destruction must cover both the Serbian and Albanian cultural heritage (religious buildings and historic architecture as well as libraries, archives and museums).

4.       The Council of Europe should also contribute to reactivating the cultural landscape, the enactment of efficient media legislation and provision for media self-regulation. Youth and sports programmes are also needed and could do a lot to ease the climate of tension.

5.       The recent conflicts in the Balkans have clearly shown that the existing problems there cannot be tackled on the local level only. Thus the Assembly believes that the Council of Europe commitment to the revival and the democratisation of processes in the field of culture and education in Kosovo should go alongside efforts in the same direction in Montenegro, despite the lack of a specific mandate. The democratic forces in Serbia also need urgent support and assistance.

6.       The scope of the challenges that the Council of Europe has to face is unprecedented, yet its long experience in co-ordination and in providing expertise both in terms of technical assistance and in mediating complex questions of educational and cultural rights places it in a very strong position.

7.       In this respect, the Assembly regrets that no mandate has yet been given to the Council of Europe for assistance to the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) with regard to education matters. Without a proper basis for co-operation and partnership, proposals it has made to UNMIK cannot be taken forward.

8.       Therefore, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers

a. negotiate without any further delay a mandate for Council of Europe assistance to UNMIK with regard to cultural and educational matters and ensure the organisation's position in this field in Kosovo;

b. proceed to a thorough assessment of the needs for assistance to culture, education, media, cultural heritage, youth and sport issues;

c. step up dialogue and co-operation with the Government of Montenegro and with democratic forces in Serbia.

Signed : ¹

Poptodorova, Bulgaria, SOC

Domljan, Croatia, EPP/CD

Dumitrescu, Romania, SOC

Fehr, Switzerland, LDR

Hadjidemetriou, Cyprus, SOC

Hegyi, Hungary, SOC

Kiely, Ireland, LDR

Libicki, Poland, EDG

Lucyga, Germany, SOC

O'Hara, United Kingdom, SOC

Roseta, Portugal, EPP/CD

Stepova, Czech Republic, SOC

Valk, Netherlands, SOC

Wilshire, United Kingdom, EDG

Zingeris, Lithuania, EDG

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group