Mintimer Shaimiev makes report at UNESCO executive council session

The opening ceremony of the UNESCO executive council 185th session was held in Paris on October 11 at the UNESCO headquarters. Representatives of 58 countries, including Tatarstan State Counsellor Mintimer Shaimiev, took part in the event.

A discussion on the topic “Inter-cultural dialogue-2010 and reconsidering the policy in the context of the world culture” was held as part of the session. The first President of Tatarstan was one of the three speakers. In his speech he noted that the practice of successful interaction and dialogues of civilization exists and could be in-demand in the conditions of growing inter-civilization conflicts in many developed countries. He cited the example of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Mintimer Shaimiev also informed about the large-scale project on reconstruction of historical monuments “The Republic of Tatarstan cultural heritage: the ancient town of Bolgar and island-town Sviyazhsk” which us successfully realized by the republican fund “Renascence”. Both ancient towns are in the UNESCO waiting list. He expressed hope they will be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in the near future.

Mintimer Shaimiev was accompanied by Tatarstan Vice-Premier – Minister of Culture Zilya Valeyeva, the Republic of Tatarstan Plenipotentiary Representative in France Iskander Yusupov, RT presidential press-service reports.