ethically and religiously motivated violence in Kosovo and Metohija still exists. The perception among the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as among the returnees and the IDP's, is that all incidents are carried out to signal to them a message of being unwelcome, to deter returns and to encourage their departure. Protection of human rights safeguarded by international covenants, including those related to respect of rights of religious groups and fight against discrimination of religious communities, represents the ultimate responsibility of international presence in Kosovo. In this line, our delegation would like to point out that restoration and effective protection of Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija represents an imperative for the international community and local authorities, as it is a precondition for reconciliation and reaching the sustainable solution that would inclUde guarantees of respecting the rights of all people, irrespective of its ethnicity. Thank you for your attention. 5 Ch, Thury, CH-1206 — Geneve, tel. +41 22 839 33 44 , fax. +41 22 839 33 59 , e-mail: serbian.mission@bluewin,eh