2 hours agoCulture Minister Not Renovation of Deva Home, International Reassess Their Role
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)After two days of controversy over the figure of Xhafer Deva, at his old house in Mitrovica, restoration has been halted. After the concerns expressed by the German ambassador, The UNDP will now reassess its role and contribution to restoring this object, which for the Ministry of Culture in Kosovo has enormous social value, [...]
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kosovo will re-evaluate its role in restoring Xhafer Deva's home after Tuesday, together with the European Union Office in Kosovo, said the project has been suspended. In an answer to the Express Journal, The UNDP says it is talking to all parties involved in the issue of restoring the home of the Albanian politician, whose role during World War II has now become a topic, nearly 44 years after his death.
“We are in touch with all parties involved and re-evaluate our role and contribution, including the possibility to use the current controversy as a timely opportunity to address the past openly through open discussions and consultations with all relevant communities”, the UNDP's response reported.
Culture Minister Hajrula Ceku said on Wednesday that they have not turned back from the plan to restore Xhaferra Deva's house. That said he has clarified to Germany's ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, who on Monday expressed his concern over the issue.
We need to finish this job started years ago. The monument is being restored, the story of Xhafer Deva is not being rehabilitated. So, we are not doing anything, except restoring a monument, we are defending our cultural heritage”, Ceku said.
Germany's chief of diplomatic mission in Kosovo called Xhafer Devin a close associate of the Nazis, calling that the truth about the Holocaust not be distorted, the genocide of Nazi Germany over Jews during World War II.
“Do not distort the truth about Holocaust or war crimes committed by the Nazis and local collaborators”, Rohde wrote on Twitter.
The renovation had started on February 1st to be suspended later this Tuesday.
This work started within the framework of the cultural heritage programme “as driving for inter-communal dialogue and social cohesion”, which is co-financed by the EU's Office of Stability and Peace and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. Implementation is done by the UNDP.
