President of Tatarstan meets with ICOMOS experts

President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov has met with 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. Tatarstan’s State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev, Minister of culture Airat Sibagatullin, Aide to the RT President on social issues Tatyana Larionova participated in the meeting.

Visy Zsolt and Gergely Nagy 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. ICOMOS members have already visited both historical sites and held a meeting at the Kazan Kremlin.

Rustam Minnikhanov said that the visit of leading international experts to republic is a very significant event. “We have our own history and sights. The Kazan Kremlin is included in the list of UNESCO World heritage sites,” Rustam Minnikhanov said. He noted that the reconstructed Annunciation Cathedral and Kul Sharif mosque located near the Kremlin demonstrate peaceful co-existence of different religions and inter-confessional world in Tatarstan.

Rustam Minnikhanov said he hopes that the current visit of ICOMOS experts will favour inclusion of Bolgar and Sviyazhsk in the list of UNESCO World heritage sites.