Eurasian Cities Forum opened in Kazan

The opening ceremony of Eurasian Cities Forum with participation of the Youth model of the UNESCO World heritage Committee was held at the Kazan city hall today. The forum is dedicated to the topic “heritage and innovations”.

RT State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev, Secretary General of the Organization of World Heritage Cities Denis Ricard, Deputy Director of the UNESCO World heritage Institute Ron van Oers, Deputy Chief of the Federal agency for tourism Grigory Sharishvilli, Deputy Chairman of RT State Council Rimma Ratnikova, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, and other officials attended the ceremony.

Mayors of cities and heads of regions of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Tajikistan, China, Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia and other Eurasian countries, officials of the UN, UNESCO and other international organizations also took part in the event.

Before the ceremony guests vowed exhibitions “Heritage of Eurasian cities”, “Eurasian branch of the Organization of World Heritage Cities – 10 years together”, “Universiade 2013” and “Innovations in public services”.

Co-president of the World organization “United cities and local authorities”, President of Eurasian branch of the Organization of World Heritage Cities, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin opened the forum. He welcomed guests and thanked them for participation in Eurasian Cities Forum.

Ilsur Metshin said that this meeting assumes special international significance because it is held in the year when UNESCO celebrates 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention. The Mayor also reminded that the Youth model of the UNESCO World heritage Committee is working in Kazan, and the 36th session of the UNESCO World heritage Committee is being held in St.Petersburg these days.

Ilsur Metshin noted that much attention is paid to preservation and restoration of historical monuments in Tatarstan and 2012 was announced the year of historical and cultural heritage.

RT State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev welcomed organizers and participants of the conference personally and on behalf of the Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov. He supposes that the forum is dedicated to a very urgent topic – problems of preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. “We have reached a consensus that it is time to devote ourselves to restoration of historical and cultural heritage on state level. In the contest of set goals we carry out unprecedented great work on revival of ancient Bolgar and island town Sviyazhsk,” the State Counselor said.

Deputy Director of the UNESCO World heritage Institute Ron van Oers also addressed the audience with welcoming speech. He noted the importance of profound interaction and cooperation of cities and involvement of young people in implemented work.

Moreover, the Russian-Turkish conference on cooperation in the sphere of tourism opened within the framework of forum. Deputy Chief of the Federal agency for tourism Grigory Sharishvilli and Turkish Minister of culture and tourism Ertuğrul Günay welcomed the attendees.

Actual issues related to preservation of heritage, increase of tourist attractiveness and international recognition are to be discussed at the forum “heritage and innovations”. In addition, tendencies of adopting new technologies enabling to improve living environment in cities are supposed to be revealed.