E.Lodvigova: “To achieve a better future, it is necessary to continue cooperation within the framework of the OWHC”

The Deputy Head of the Kazan Municipality spoke at the X International Conference of Eurasia World Heritage Cities.

To achieve a common goal, the members of the Eurasian Regional Section of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) should continue to exchange best experience of cultural heritage preservation and participate in all the activities of the organization in the international space. This was announced today at the opening of the X International Conference of the World Heritage Cities of Euro-Asia in Turkistan (Kazakhstan) by the Deputy head of the Kazan municipality Evgenia Lodvigova.

The conference was held online because of the coronavirus pandemic. This year it was organized by the Akimat of Turkistan and the Eurasian Regional Secretariat of the OWHC. More than 100 people took part in the conference–representatives of 55 cities from 23 countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Iran and others. Jacek Majchrowski, President of OWHC,Mayor of Krakow, opened the event and Rashid Ayupov, the Mayor of the city, greeted the participants on behalf of Turkestan.

Evgenia Lodvigova thanked the Akimat of Turkistan for preparing and holding the event in such a difficult time, during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Eurasian Section was established 18 years ago on the initiative of Kazan and with the support of partners from Turkey. During this time, many events were held, where experts of cultural heritage preservation and heads of municipalities had the opportunity to discuss the rich culture of cities, traditions of regions, and exchange positive experience, Evgenia Lodvigova noted.

“The organization has united our cities so we can exchange best experience in the field of cultural heritage preservation, develop cultural tourism together, and promote the idea of heritage preservation at the municipal, national and international levels, - she said, addressing her colleagues. - The Eurasian region is rightly proud that it has the largest number of World Heritage sites on its territory, and this imposes certain obligations on us. I would like to emphasize that to achieve a better future, it is necessary to cooperate within the framework of our Regional Section, as well as to take an active part in all the events held by the OWHC”.

In 2022, Kazan will host the 45^th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee

The Deputy head of the Kazan municipality reminded that the 45^th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will be held in the capital of Tatarstan in 2022. “It is a great honor and at the same time a great responsibility for us, because in 2022 the 80^th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will be celebrated. I hope that everyone gathered today will join this event offline. Of course, this session will help to draw the attention of the world community to the importance of preserving cultural and natural heritage based on the experience of Russia”, - E.Lodvigova emphasized.

The participants discussed the activities of the Regional Section and the prospects for its development, issues of preservation and promotion of World Heritage sites, and much more. As a result of the conference, a declaration was adopted, reflecting all the proposed measures and recommendations for the effective use, promotion and preservation of World Heritage sites.