EUROPEAN CENTER
OF BYZANTINE AND POST-BYZANTINE MONUMENTS
EKBMM, Leophoros Stratou 2,
546 22, Thessaloniki - GR,
Tel/Fax: 30 31 853078
General Director of UNESCO
Mr. Frederico Mayor
Maison de l'Unesco
1, rue Miollis
75732 Paris
Cedex 15
France
Dear General Director,
The bombings, hostilities and violent actions, taking place in the territory of the Federal Democracy of Yugoslavia and especially in Kosovo, constitute a major threat for the cultural treasures of the country. The European Center for the Byzantine and PostByzantine Monuments expresses its great concern for the present situation and the imminent threats against the several important Byzantine and Serbian monuments located within the boundaries of the Federal Democracy of Yugoslavia, that constitute brilliant elements of the European and World Heritage. It should not be eluded that Byzantine monasteries of Studenica and Sopocani have been included in the List of World Heritage.
The European Center for the Byzantine and PostByzantine Monuments would ask, dear General Director, to exercise your influence for the appropriate and urgent measures and is expecting with justifiable concern to be informed about the initiatives and actions of UNESCO, aiming to the protection of the monuments of the Federal Democracy of Yugoslavia, especially in the framework of the international conventions for the "Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage" and the "Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflicts".
The European Center for the Byzantine and PostByzantine Monuments obviously at your disposal for any scientific or other assistance, which would be considered as useful.
P.S. We would like to remind you that you had announced the foundation of the European Center for Byzantine and PostByzantine Monuments in your visit to Athens in 1996.
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