Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medynsky spoke at the II International Congress of Restorers, which opened today in Kazan

 Tatarstan,  in an  exemplary manner,   a unique integrated project to rebuild the ancient city of Bolgar and Sviyazhsk island-town is being realized. This statement was made by Minister of Culture of Russia Vladimir Medynsky at the II International Congress of Restorers, which  has  opened today in Kazan.

The theme of the forum, which is held in the framework of the 70th anniversary of UNESCO - "Preservation and restoration of historical and cultural heritage:  domestic and international practice." Honorary guests of the event were RT  State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev, Executive secretary of the Russian National Commission for UNESCO  Grigory Ordzhonikidze, ICOMOS President Gustavo Araoz, and others.

Opening the plenary session of the Congress, Vladimir  Medyskyna read out  a welcome  message from  RF  Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

In his speech, Minister of Culture of Russia noted that  by the achievements of Russian restorers  now we may   be proud of. "Such  number of transferred  at the federal level restored objects as  the past two or three years, never after August 1991 we did  have," -   V. Medynsky . Overall, in two years  the restoration of more than a thousand monuments of culture in Russia has started.

"I am pleased to note that part of the overall success is  a well thought-out,  state, system policy in the field of restoration," - said the Minister. In his opinion, without an integrated approach it is  very hard, almost impossible  to conduct works, therefore  in Russia are a long-term program of restoration  are created. A number of concepts have been developed to restore monuments of history.

The speaker listed a number of large objects that are restored in the regions of Russia today. Speaking about Tatarstan, V. Medynsky  said that " the republic,   in an exemplary manner, a  unique complex project on  restoring  the two pearls of the world culture - the ancient city of Bolgar and Sviyazhsk island-town is  implementing ." He reminded that Bolgar was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and expressed the hope that in the near future  Sviyazhsk would  get international recognition. The Minister stressed a crucial role of the State Advisor of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev in  promoting  to the  UNESCO  these two objects.

"I am confident that  implementation of such projects not only prolongs the life of cultural heritage, but also gives them a new, qualitative value in  education of our children -  V.Medynsky said. - Each of these objects becomes the object of  tourism industry,  attendance is growing. " As an example, he also brought  the Bolgar and Sviyazhsk, which is visited annually by thousands of tourists from around the world.

Head of Russian Ministry of Culture advised the participants of the forum to get acquainted with the sights of Kazan. "Even 30-40 years ago, Kazan was one of the provincial cities, and today Kazan - a tourist, infrastructure, business Pearl of Russia", - he said. The official said that today the capital of Tatarstan,   is  visited by millions of tourists, whereas, for example, in 2009 there were only 350-400 thousand.

At the end of his speech, Vladimir Medynsky said that without  restorers, who have made the preservation of the history  their  life's work, so successful  would  not have happened in the industry.

IA "Tatar-inform"