Mintimer Shaimiev, ‘The results of the Organization of World Heritage Cities in Kazan will make an important contribution in conservation of humanity’s historical and cultural heritage’
June 19. Tatarstan President took part in the opening ceremony of the Organization of World Heritage Cities’ IX World Congress in Kazan.
Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin, the OWHC President Mayor of Cuenca Hugo Palacios, Secretary General of the OWHC Denis Ricard, RF President’s vice plenipotentiary in PFR Vladimir Zorin, the director of Getty Conservation Institute Timothy Valen, RT vice Prime Minister, Minister of culture Zilya Valeeva, and other representatives of the international forum took part in the solemn ceremony.
Before the ceremony, which took place in Korston cultural and entertainment centre, the flags of Russian Federation, of European Council, of UNESCO, of OWHC, of Tatarstan, of Kazan, and some other international organizations were delivered to the hall.
The work of the Congress was opened by Kazan mayor Ilsur Metshin. In his speech he pointed out that choosing Kazan as a place for IX World Congress of OWHC is acknowledgment Kazan as a leader of Eurasian department of the Organization. “Joining the cities of Eurasian world (it is almost half of the planet), Kazan helped OHWN to widen its activity. And today we are happy to welcome forum of OHWC from 69 countries and 129 cities”. Kazan Mayor also underlined that presidents and vice presidents of world and international organizations, ambassadors, representatives of Ministries and departments, directors of museums, mayor, coordinators of OHWC’ regional departments, scientists, researchers, students, and representatives of UNESCO from all the world took part in the forum. “For us, citizens of Tatarstan, it is very important that for the first time in the history of Congress the official language of the forum is one of the state languages of our Republic - Tatar language, - indicated the head of Kazan. - The world meaning of the congress we see in the fact that for the first time some countries with richest cultural heritage are included in the work of forum. They are India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, and Ukraine”.
Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev appealed to those who gathered. He read the greeting to the members of OHWC Congress from the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Today the fast urbanization of the cities makes the cultural heritage weaker, - was underlined in the text of Russian President. - That’s why we have to combine the building of new houses with conservation the ancient ones. Kazan has such positive experience. It is the city, where historical places are combined with active megapolis’ infrastructure”.
Coming out for the participants of the forum, Tatarstan President underlined, that the problems of conversation of historical and cultural heritage in so changeable modern world are top ones. “Valuable historical monuments and unique natural zones are killed not only due to military conflicts. Dynamical development of world economy, urbanization, the use of natural resources, and environment pollution cause the distraction of historical values”, worries Tatarstan president. According to him such situation demands serious decisions and joining of world community.
“Our republic has some experience of using and governing unique monument and architectural objects. I hope it will be interesting for our guests”, underlined Mintimer Shaimiev, adding that 25,000 of cultural objects are protected by Government in Tatarstan.
“We are glad that the participants of the forum will be able to get acquainted with our traditions and culture, to take part in the national holiday Sabantuy, which has now international and multinational meaning. It is celebrated in 17 countries, and it is supposed to be included in non-material heritage of UNESCO, - underlined at the end the head of Tatarstan. - I am sure that the results of the Organization of World Heritage Cities in Kazan will make an important contribution in conservation of humanity’s historical and cultural heritage”.
In his speech the OWHC President Marcelo Cabrera Palacios pointed out that the values of the organization are based first of all on conservation of historical and cultural support of different nations and traditions. “Ideological pluralism, cultural divertissement help us to understand each other better and to work out new ideas, - he underlined. - Kazan gave us an opportunity to get acquainted with Muslim world and Eurasian region. Today we can claim that we are the citizens of the world. The divertissement of our cultures let us enrich, not loosing our specific features”.
The OWHC honored President Jean Paul Lalie came out for the participants of the ceremony. He told about the history of organization, existing already 16 years. According to him Kazan Congress is a culmination in the OWHC activity. “Kazan Congress allowed us to come closer to the core of the values, which we propagandize: the acknowledging of the differences and mutual tolerance”, that’s the opinion of Mr. Lalie.
During the solemn opening of the OWHC’ there were read the greetings of director general of UNESCO Koitiro Mattsura, RF Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, and Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov.