UNESCO experts visit historical monuments of Bolgar and Sviyazhsk

Experts of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), advisory body of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, Mr Visy Zsolt and Mr Gergely Nagy are staying in Tatarstan. They arrived in order to visit the ancient city of Bolgar and island town Sviyazhsk in the context of inclusion of these historical objects in the list of UNESCO World heritage sites.

Visy Zsolt, professor and doctor of archeology, ex-president of ICOMOS Hungarian national commission came to Kazan as a Bolgar expert. Gergely Nagy, professor and doctor of architecture, current president of ICOMOS Hungarian national commission is a Sviyazhsk expert. ICOMOS is the main consultant of UNESCO.

The International Council deals with assessment of objects suggested for inclusion in the UNESCO World heritage list.

On October 1, guests visited Bolgar and Sviyazhsk to learn more about the historical objects and conducted work aimed at their revival.

On October 2, experts will come to the ancient city and island town again accompanied by the Tatarstan State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev.

Today, Visy Zsolt and Gergely Nagy have met with first president of Tatarstan and chairman of Guardian Council of the Republic foundation “Vozrozhdenie” (“Revival”) at the Kazan Kremlin.

Chairman of the Russian national committee of the world cultural and natural heritage of the RF Commission for UNESCO affairs, President of the Russian national committee of ICOMOS Igor Makovetsky took part in the meeting.

Mintimer Shaimiev welcomed guests and thanked for the visit to Tatarstan.

The Tatarstan State Counselor said that all comments and suggestions of experts will be very useful.

Mr Visy Zsolt noted that he and his colleague bear great responsibility before the world community. He stressed that the estimation experts will give after visiting Tatarstan’s historical monuments is their personal opinion, the final decision will be made by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee upon considering the bid for inclusion of Bolgar and Sviyazhsk in the UNESCO World heritage list.

Gergely Nagy also underlined great work made by the “Vozrozhdenie” foundation. He is convinced of high professional level of the Tatarstan scientists and cooperation among experts, authorities and church.