I.Metshin: "Cultural heritage is carefully and lovingly preserved in Tatarstan"

(KZN.RU, July 7) The Eurasian urban forum “Heritage and Innovation” was held in Kazan. The forum was attended by representatives from 35 cities -- the Eurasian regional branch of the world organization "United Cities and Local Governments" (UCLG), Secretary General of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) Denis Ricard, co-chair of UCLG and Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, State Councillor of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev and members of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The forum was attended by over 150 people from 53 cities in 11 countries: mayors, representatives of international organizations, funds for the preservation of cultural, historical and architectural heritage, unions and associations of cities, academic and research institutions, educational institutions, museums and other cultural institutions.

The participants discussed issues related to the preservation of cultural heritage, increasing tourism appeal and international recognition and introduction of new technologies to improve urban living conditions.

At the same time, a general assembly of the Eurasian branch of the world organization “United Cities and Local Governments”, a meeting of the Council of the Eurasian branch of the UCLG, the 6th international conference “Preservation and Promotion of Heritage ", a meeting of the Association of Towns of the Volga Region, the exhibition “Heritage of the cities of Eurasia”, a Russian-Turkish conference of tour operators and investors for cooperation in tourism, to name a few, were also held.

As part of the Eurasian urban forum, an agreement was signed on cooperation between the capitals of Tatarstan and the Chechen Republic. Ilsur Metshin explained that cooperation between the cities will be based on the exchange of experiences in various areas, including business, culture and sports, and noted the importance of such agreements.

During the meeting of the 6th General Assembly of the UCLG Eurasian branch, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin was for the third time elected President of the UCLG Eurasian branch. The participants approved a plan of UCLG and OWHC activities and work programs for 2013, expenditure estimates for 2013, as well as the composition of the Audit Commission and of the Council of the Eurasian office. In addition, Samara and Ugledar (Ukraine) were elected new members of the UCLG Eurasian branch.

The guests noted that Kazan is a unique city. The capital of Tatarstan is a model of how work should be structured to preserve historical heritage. Thus, UNESCO Deputy Director General Mounir Bouchenaki said that in the early 2000s, this kind of work was carried out poorly in Kazan, but in recent years, thanks to the city and republican authorities, the restoration of significant historic sites in the capital of Tatarstan has been brought to a new level. In his view, construction of new facilities in Kazan does not harm the historical heritage objects.