Vecernje Novosti, 23 September 2007 , page 10. The article was printed on the occasion of important meeting of Europa Nostra in Belgrade , held from 14 – 30 September 2007

Translated by: Vera Konjovic

Your History, Your Identity

Exclusive

HRH the Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón speaks to Novosti during her first visit to Serbia

Dubravka Savic:

It is not understood outside of Serbia how important an issue Kosovo is for this country, for its culture. The first central celebration of the European Heritage Days last week in Belgrade was an opportunity for the first visit by HRH the Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón to our country. The sister of the Spanish king is the President of Europa Nostra, the pan-European federation that brings together more than 250 similar non-governmental organisations from 45 European countries, and with more than 1,500 individual members concerned with cultural heritage; it has a local branch here, Europa Nostra Serbia , headed by Irina Subotić. In an exclusive interview for Novosti, the Spanish Infanta stresses the importance of local organisations that care for our cultural heritage.

“Belgrade is a wonderful city and it is good that there are so many organisations that are prepared to protect its architecture and monument. These old buildings are part of the country’s history and part of the identity of the people that live there. In this part of the world, where there is more than one cultural - many of them having passed through these areas - the entire history has been ‘written’ on the old buildings for the generations to come. What is preserved today will be extremely important in 100 years.”

Your first impressions about Belgrade , Serbia ?

“Even though I had not been previously to Serbia , I met Prince Alexander in childhood. He too has not been here in Belgrade for very long. I will always remember Belgrade. The first morning I visited the Kalemegdan fortress. Its location on the confluence of the Sava and Danube is impressive - such a strategically important location. Belgrade was and remains a strategically located city.”

You mentioned ties with Prince Alexander…

“All royal families in Europe are considered relatives! Prince Alexander is the first cousin of my daughter-in-law, Princess Sofia. Even though we are not blood relatives, we grew up as relatives. He is 10 years younger than me, but we be have become very close during all these years. He has visited me and my husband many times, and we attended the baptisms of his children, and also his first marriage. He knows that he has relatives and he can call us at any time. It is a wonderful friendship. Communications between us come very easily. He is very happy here. He spends eight to nine months per year in Belgrade.”

Are you also linked by business?

“By business – definitely not. And thank god for that! No, as it was mentioned during the meeting with President Tadic, there is concern regarding Kosovo. It is not understood outside of Serbia how important an issue Kosovo is for this country, its culture. How stressful this issue is for this country…”

Separatist tendencies are not foreign to Spain ?

“There is primarily a problem in Catalonia . But that is an entirely different problem. You can never look for similarities in other countries. The culture is different; the root of the problem is different. I wouldn’t recommend comparison. I think that making comparisons is strange and unhelpful in general.”

What were your messages in the meeting with President Tadic, and what did you hear from him?

“The President knew of Europa Nostra, and now he is particularly interested in local non-governmental organisations that are involved in protection of cultural heritage. Some of them were founded only recently. We emphasised the importance of these organisations, because as I have said, heritage is the basis of the identity of Earth’s inhabitants.”

What would be your advice to these organisations?

“We do not distribute funds in Europa Nostra. However, at the same time, we have influence on the European Union and Council of Europe. We have influence not only in the domain of the protection of monuments but also nature, and industrial heritage… For example, in Great Britain there is an organisation that is involved in the protection of old factories that are no longer in use. The industrial revolution in that country was very important and protecting factories is important to show young generations where the forces of modernisation started. Perhaps you too have many old factories here that should be preserved, as heritage.”

Let’s go back to Kosovo. You are surely familiar with the cultural heritage in this province?

“This is the message - we must learn to respect each other. Every religion has its religious buildings, synagogues, Catholic, Orthodox churches… If we respect these monuments, we respect the people that consider these buildings important. Or at least to try to find what you have in common, and that is perhaps - faith. Even if you are not of the same faith, belief is what you have in common. If you believe, you must respect the fact that others believe in something else. Respect comes first.”

Sometimes that is difficult to implement in practice…

“Yes, but that must be addressed seriously, because that is the only way to avoid destruction.”

Can organisations such as yours help prevent the destruction of monuments?

“We can help, with conferences, our own experience… But that must primarily come from the people themselves, to find respect for others. You can not love your neighbour, or not accept their faith, but you must respect his belief. I admit that this is not easy. Particularly after bloodshed. But that is the only way.”

Are you familiar with Serbia ’s heritage?

“In our European cultures there is a common basis. For example, I have seen an extraordinary collection of Ancient Roman coins in Serbia, not because I’m a passionate coin collector, but because I admire antiquities. We understand that Greeks, Romans were here, and then Turks for centuries… We had the Arabs in Span. Everyone left traces. Whether we liked it or not, that is part of our and your history.”

Have you much experience in monument protection programs?

“I’m a member of a world organisation that finances the restoration of monuments. In Spain, and other countries, this organisation has revived old crafts, because in order to restore monuments you have to know how they were made at the time.”

Are you also involved in humanitarian work?

“Oh, yes! I was trained as a nurse. That is what I had wanted to do since I was five. I got a very good education. It was a glorious time of state schools in Portugal, and I am very proud that I belonged to that generation. I worked for several years, but I soon had to take care of my mother, and then I got married. With five children I couldn’t work. But I joined several humanitarian projects in Spain, including ‘Action Help’, which focuses on the countries of Latin America, Africa, India, and Nepal. These are long-term projects. We are guided by the rule ‘Don’t give a hungry man a fish, but teach him how to fish.’ For already 35 years I have headed the Spanish organisation ‘New Future’, which helps children without parental care. Our innovative model of caring for these children was later accepted by the state and I am proud of that.”

You have also been a member of the Olympic Committee?

“Yes, a full 12 years. Then I decided that it needed ‘fresh blood’ and I resigned this position last year. Now I am an honorary member.”

What does your ‘typical’ day look like?

“Sometimes I don’t do anything and I spend the day working on flowers, or I take care of my grandchildren. But I’m usually very busy. Something is always happening, particularly in the humanitarian work which is sometimes really exhausting.”

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Serbia and Spain

What is your view on relations between Serbia and Spain ?

“We are both Mediterranean countries and we are oriented towards tourism. We have worked hard in Spain on developing tourism and have 54 million tourists per year. Part of the restoration of monuments has been financed by funds gained from tourism. Here, if you want tourists, you have to try to restore monuments. Some of the antiquities can become small hotels, private or state-owned, as you choose, but both would be useful,” said the Infanta.

Royal Ties

What is the role of royal families in the modern world?

“To continue to do everything best for their country.”

How to royal families cooperate between themselves?