Preliminary observations by the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Karima Bennoune, at the end of her October 3-14 visit to Serbia and Kosovo*

(*) Throughout this document, the reference to Kosovo shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo

BELGRADE - The cultural heritage in Kosovo must not be used as a "political football" and both sides must acknowledge the destruction of cultural and religious monuments in the past, Karima Bennoune, UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, told a press conference in Belgrade Friday.

She cited the destruction of 35 Serbian Orthodox monuments and churches in March 2004 and the attacks against the workshop of ethnic Albanian sculptor Agim Cavdarbasa in Pristina and two mosques in Nis and Belgrade.