Mintimer Shaimiev meets with Francesco Bandarin in Paris and visits Chartres town

Tatarstan delegation led by the State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev that arrived in Paris by invitation of the UNESCO World heritage Committee has started its work from visiting the UNESCO headquarters.

Main purpose of the visit is studying of experience of the French restorers and archeologists in the sphere of consolidation and conservation of archeological objects for using their methods in revival of historical monuments in Bolgar and Sviyazhsk.

“The unique value of Bolgar is that this monument belongs to Muslim architecture and pre-Islamic epoch,” Adviser to ICCROM Director General Munir Bushnaki who accompanies Mintimer Shaimiev during the trip said.

On the first day of trip (July, 10), the State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev met with UNESCO Deputy Director General on culture Francesco Bandarin.

Mintimer Shaimiev told about work being performed by the “Revival” Fund on the territory of Bolgar historical-architectural museum-reserve and Sviyazhsk historical – cultural and landscape complex. Mr Bandarin expressed great interest towards this project and was delighted with the project scale. Moreover, he was willing to visit Tatarstan and see the objects with his own eyes.

The RT State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev and UNESCO Deputy Director General on culture Francesco Bandarin signed Protocol of intentions on work in the sphere of preservation and restoration of Bolgar and Sviyazhsk monuments. It is the basic document for further signing of Agreement between UNESCO and the Republican Fund for historical and cultural monuments revival in the sphere of preservation and museumification of historical and cultural heritage.

The same day members of the Tatarstan delegation visited Chartres town. They viewed the UNESCO World heritage object – Chartres Cathedral, a Gothic Cathedral (XII-XVI centuries) characteristic of rich sculpture decoration.

A meeting with Deputy Mayor of Chartres town was held as well. “We are glad that you decided visiting our town. We hope for establishing strong relationships with Kazan,” she noted and thanked Mintimer Shaimiev for interesting story about Bolgar and Sviyazhsk.

Further, members of the delegation visited archeological excavations in Chartres. Mintimer Shaimiev spoke to French archeologists and restorers, learnt about their opinion regarding advanced methods of preservation of archeological monuments meeting the world standards.

On July 11 the delegation is going to visit Louvre and Versailles Palace, meet with Director of Louvre restoration laboratory Maria Lavandie, Director of the Department for international cooperation of the Ministry of culture of France Bruno Favel and Chief architect of Palace and Park Ensemble of Versailles Pierre-André Lablaude.

On July 12 the State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev will take part in official XXVII World summer Universiade Flame Lighting ceremony in Sorbonne. The flame will be travelling through cities around the world during 2012-2013 years and will be brought to Kazan in July 2013 to open Universiade.

The delegation consists of Aide to RT President on social issues, CEO of the Republican Fund for historical and cultural monuments revival Tatyana Larionova, RT Minister of culture Airat Sibagatullin, Chairman of the Russian national committee of world cultural and natural heritage under the RF Commission for UNESCO Igor Makovetsky, Chief of Volga branch of the UNESCO department for preservation of urban planning and architectural monuments Rafael Valeev and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tatarstan in the French Republic Iskander Yusupov.