Kazan may host next World Heritage Cities Eurasia conference

(KZN.RU, October 29, by Renat Shirmanov). Kazan could host next World Heritage Cities Eurasia conference. This was proposed by the mayor of Tatarstan’s capital today during the closing ceremony of the 5th International Conference in Istanbul.

Over 250 people from 28 countries participated in the conference, representing the local authorities of Eurasia, international organizations, funds of cultural, historical and architectural heritage, city unions and associations, academic and research institutions, museums and other institutions.

Mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbash, who is the current president of the United Cities and Local Governments, said that globalization had brought about the crumbling of cities’ heritage and the attrition of traditions. He thanked Vice-President of the Eurasian branch of the Organization of World Heritage Cities, President of the Eurasian branch of the United Cities and Local Governments organization Ilsur Metshin, "thanks to whose active position, the issues of heritage conservation in the region are being dealt with."

Ilsur Metshin summarized the work of the international conference. "The conference participants became acquainted with the ways to preserve historic monuments and with the creation of new objects that our descendants would inherit. We can justly say that the main goal of the conference - to define the strategy for the conservation and efficient use of the cultural heritage of Asian cities and the region - has been achieved," said the Mayor of Kazan.

"We should pay great attention to peoples’ cultural diversity and identity. It should be mentioned that in the summer of 2012, St. Petersburg will host the main meeting of the 36th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. At the same time, a youth committee session will be held in Kazan, during which UNESCO representatives will visit the Tatarstan’s sites, which are about to enter the World Heritage List - the ancient city of Bolgar and the island-city of Sviyazhsk. I propose that the 6th International Conference of World Heritage Cities in Eurasia be held during this time in the capital of Tatarstan. I am sure it will be no less successful and effective,” summed up Ilsur Metshin.