Abstract
Current works have focused on the role of urban heritage to sustainable development in postwar cities and have highlighted the significance of participatory and inclusive approaches that involve citizens and key stakeholders in the conservation and regeneration of heritage areas. However, this task is rather complex and challenging, especially in areas inhabited by multiple ethnic groups. Skills in negotiation and building trust are as important as skills in restoration and conservation of the physical fabric. However, the current literature lacks in-depth understandings of how negotiations in these contexts work and what we can learn from the past. The aim of this paper is to explore this issue by using a case study analysis, in particular, that of Kosovo. This paper looks at how the process developed during the implementation period of Annex V of the Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement (CSP) related to cultural heritage preservation. We analyze the sociocultural and political dynamics on the ground by focusing on Article 4 that deals with protective zones. With a critical examination of the approaches taken by stakeholders, including the public discourse and the example of the historic centre of Prizren, we suggest rethinking the implementation of Annex V as a sustainable option, rather than looking at other (beyond Annex V) alternatives that could potentially undermine the inter-community rebuilding efforts, and instead of creating the basis for sustainable cultural heritage preservation and reconciliation would eventually contribute to escalation and deepening of the conflict.
Highlights
Most of the literature on urban heritage and its role in post-war recovery and resilience highlight the huge potential of heritage in providing sustainable economic and social futures
The uniqueness of a case, among others, was that the International Civilian Representative (ICR) was appointed as a European Union Special Representative (EUSR), in order to support Kosovo on its European Union path [29]
Extraordinary and unique cases need extraordinary and unique approaches of novel methods to deal with cultural heritage preservation in the context of conflict especially when it comes to the implementation on the ground
Summary
Most of the literature on urban heritage and its role in post-war recovery and resilience highlight the huge potential of heritage in providing sustainable economic and social futures. The significance of utilizing local knowledge and skills in traditional construction [1], enabling local communities to negotiate among themselves their recovery priorities [2], while providing training on traditional building conservation and maintenance [3], has been stressed as key elements for the future sustainability of the physical and social fabric of post-war cities. What is lacking in the current literature is more knowledge about the role of urban heritage as a negotiation and reconciliation medium [4,5]. Heritage is no longer defined on the basis of its material aspects but on the basis of its intangible meanings and values [6].
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