NATO mission assesses security improvements, Kosovo Police part of security provision at Deçan Monastery

Thanks to the “improvement of the security situation in Kosovo”, as assessed by NATO, the Kosovo Police will be part of the security infrastructure of this monument in cooperation with the NATO mission, KFOR. KFOR itself announced this development on Monday. And this step has been seen as overdue by those who have been dealing with the issue of cultural heritage in the country for two decades.

From the "monument in danger" declared by the European organization "Europa Nostra", it now appears that there is no question of any danger in relation to the Deçan Monastery. In fact, thanks to the "improvement of the security situation in Kosovo", as assessed by NATO, the Kosovo Police will be part of the security infrastructure of this monument in cooperation with the NATO mission, KFOR. KFOR itself announced this development on Monday. And this step has been seen as overdue by those who have been dealing with the issue of cultural heritage in the country for two decades. 

"Today (August 10, 2026), the NATO-led mission, KFOR, has begun the integration of Kosovo Police personnel into the KFOR security architecture, in the Deçan Monastery. In line with the improvement of the security situation in Kosovo, this is part of the process for optimizing the KFOR presence. This process will be gradual and condition-based, and is being closely coordinated with a number of stakeholders, including representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church and institutions in Kosovo, as well as representatives of the Kosovo Police and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo," reads the statement from KFOR, which is a NATO peacekeeping mission. The statement states that KFOR's commitment to the security of the Deçan Monastery and to the security of all local communities is unwavering. 

"Our personnel are well positioned to respond to any relevant developments, in accordance with KFOR's long-term UN mandate. KFOR remains the first responder for the security of the Deçan Monastery," the statement reads. It is announced that KFOR will continue close cooperation with representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, institutions in Kosovo, international organizations and the Serbian Armed Forces, in order to maintain mutual transparency, cooperation and trust, as well as to avoid misunderstandings. It is important that all parties engage constructively in dialogue and cooperation," the statement titled "KFOR begins gradual integration of Kosovo Police into KFOR's security architecture in the Deçan Monastery." 

The Deçan Monastery remains a monument where KFOR has a continuous presence. The Kosovo Police is responsible for the security of other cultural heritage assets of Kosovo that are used by Serbs to perform religious rites. The Patriarchate of Peja, which is 18.3 kilometers from the Monastery and for which the Kosovo Police is responsible for security, as well as the monument in Deçan, has not recorded any incidents. 

The head of the foundation for cultural heritage without borders, "CHwB Kosova", Sali Shoshi, said that this decision by KFOR is overdue. 

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"I welcome it as a decision, but it is very late due to the fact that all official data has shown that there have been no incidents and the area is very quiet. The delay comes from the instrumentalization of the Serbian Orthodox Church and for political issues. It was an injustice to the local residents themselves, as they have had a connection with this religious building for centuries, a connection that was severed during the Milosevic era," said Shoshi. 

According to him, the political issues propagated by the Serbian Orthodox Church should not be those that remove the Monastery from the socio-cultural context in Deçan. 

"History proves that coexistence between people and Manastir is the fundamental condition for life to continue in that Manastir and in that area. KFOR's decision is a decision that should have been made 15 years ago," said Shoshi. According to him, the case with the organization "Europa Nostra" turns out to have been completely propaganda, which the European organization itself has fallen prey to. 

"It is being proven that there is no danger there and people live in harmony," he said. 

In April 2021, propaganda from Belgrade and the Serbian Orthodox Church succeeded in getting the renowned cultural heritage organization – “Europa Nostra” – to include the Dečani Monastery among the seven most endangered heritage monuments of the old continent. The program, which has been in existence since 2013, aims to raise awareness about the fragile state of heritage sites, in the hope that this will act as an accelerator for sustainable action to preserve them for future generations. The Dečani Monastery was ranked fifth in the ranking of the seven endangered heritage sites.

"With a history dating back to the 14th century, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An important religious sanctuary in the Balkans, its location has made it a victim of unresolved legal and institutional issues due to the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo," the description said.

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When "Europa Nostra" in December 2020 included the Deçan Monastery in the short list of 12 endangered monuments, KOHA reported that for this - the European organization that Kosovo refers to with a footnote - it was based on reports from Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church. Reports that have nothing to do with reality. At that time, 40 organizations from Kosovo reacted that "Europa Nostra" was reflecting a false reality. The organization did not even change its approach after the visit of its representatives a year later in 2022 to Kosovo. 

“First, a final solution has not yet been agreed by all parties regarding the consequences caused by the plans for increased traffic in and around the Deçan Monastery Special Protected Area, nor regarding other announced interventions, such as the riverside project, which could negatively affect the natural environment of the Monastery, which will be considered an integral part of its exceptional heritage value,” the statement issued after the visit read. Then, the 2016 decision of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, confirming the ownership of the Deçan Monastery over 24 hectares of land, was listed, and at that time it had not yet been implemented by Kosovo. The decision was implemented in 2024. 

“Thirdly, due to the complex security challenges, the Monastery must continue to be guarded 24/7 by KFOR troops, as confirmed by the KFOR commander,” the statement read at the time. According to this organization, the Decani Monastery is also occasionally faced with unfounded attempts to revise the cultural and historical identity of this religious heritage site, “a trend that is not in line with European and international principles of accurate historical and artistic interpretation of historical monuments and heritage sites.”

Sali Shoshi said on Monday that other issues that continue to be raised, such as the road connecting Deçan with its mountains, should not be politicized and should be addressed based on the law. The Serbian Orthodox Church has consistently reacted to the fact that the existing local road should not be asphalted. 

"The Law on Specially Protected Areas does not prohibit road maintenance, and maintenance also includes asphalt paving. That artery is vital for the tourist future of Deçan. The Serbian Orthodox Church itself should be open to this issue as part of the Implementation and Monitoring Council," said Shoshi. 

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The Deçan Monastery is constantly visited by local residents, those from all over Kosovo, and also hosts many visitors from different countries around the world. 

The Deçan Monastery was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. In 2006, this status was extended to three other monuments in Kosovo. The Graçanica Monastery, the Patriarchate of Peja and the Church of Saint Friday in Prizren have also been included on the List of World Heritage in Danger as “Medieval Monuments in Kosovo”, which are under the name of Serbia in this world organization.