The first meeting of the Organizing Committee for the preparation of the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and Experts took place today.
The meeting in the “Sredets” gallery of the Ministry of Culture was opened by the Minister of Culture Nayden Todorov in the presence of Deputy Ministers Amelia Gesheva and Kalin Velov and Chief of Staff Persa-Anna Nakova, directors of directorates in the Ministry of Culture.
“Dear guests and colleagues from the Organizing Committee, for me this meeting is extremely important because it marks the beginning of something that I hope will remain in the history of Bulgaria. As many of you may know, on July 30 of this year the Council of Ministers decided with Decision No. 543 that Bulgaria will be a candidate to host the session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in 2025. The session will be held from July 6 to 16 and I I am very happy to welcome our guests today”, said Minister Nayden Todorov at the beginning of the meeting, expressing hope that the experts from UNESCO will be satisfied with what they saw and that this will be the beginning of an extremely successful joint work.
“In the last six months we have been able to achieve more than in the last few decades. As you know, there is already a vision and road map prepared for Nessebar, as well as a draft Conservation and Management Plan, which is happening for the first time in 12 years. “Thanks to the additional numbers that we managed to get with the decision of the Council of Ministers, the National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage will have a new department – ‘World Heritage’, which will take care of our world cultural monuments,” announced Minister Todorov. He added that in order for the Ministry of Culture to support the world’s cultural monuments themselves, an additional BGN 10 million has been earmarked for the next year in the budget of the Republic of Bulgaria, which will be specifically for world heritage.
“Meanwhile, this event will remain in the history of Bulgaria and will contribute a lot to raising the image of Bulgaria abroad. If we think it will be a big holiday for all of us”, Minister Todorov addressed the Organizing Committee, “no, it will be difficult, we will have a lot to work on, but it should be a holiday for everyone else”.
“That’s why I’m happy to welcome everyone here. I believe we will still have many meetings together. The task before us is clear – Bulgaria is one of the countries in the world with the greatest cultural heritage. It is binding, it is a responsibility. And we must stop running from our responsibilities. We must take advantage of the presence of the Committee in 2025 to show the world what we really have. I will rely on all of you, because in this world nothing is achieved by the work of individual people, achievements are successful only when they are in a team, this is a lesson that we all have to learn together”, said Minister Todorov.
He expressed his hope that the preparations for the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee would give us “something much more than an event to show and be proud of to the world, but remind us of what we can achieve, when all institutions work together for one cause’.
“And in this sense, I will expect from each of you full support for this event. Because this is not just an event for UNESCO, it is not just an event for Bulgaria. This is a world cultural heritage event in which Bulgaria has a major role. I would love to meet again in nine months and congratulate each other on a job well done. What I can say now, however, is: I wish you success, have a good time!”, said Minister Nayden Todorov.
Three experts from UNESCO took part in the meeting today, who in the period 18-20 November of this year are on their first preparatory mission to Bulgaria with a view to the organization of the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee. The experts familiarized the representatives of the Organizing Committee with the main parameters and conditions for holding the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Sofia, and the head of the political cabinet of Minister Todorov Persa-Anna Nakova presented to the meeting participants the Plan for the organization and functioning of the Organizing Committee committee.
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What specific measures are being taken to address the logistical challenges of hosting the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Bulgaria?
Guest 1: Could you tell us about the main topics discussed during the first meeting of the Organizing Committee for the preparation of the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and Experts? What were the key points raised by the Minister of Culture Nayden Todorov regarding the organization and management of this prestigious event?
Guest 2: Sure, the main topic of the meeting was the preparation for the upcoming UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in 2025. The Minister of Culture, Nayden Todorov, emphasized the importance of this event for Bulgaria and highlighted the work that needs to be done to showcase the country’s cultural heritage. He also talked about the additional funding allocated for the preservation of world heritage sites and the establishment of a new department at the National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage to focus on world heritage conservation. The meeting also covered the preparation of a Conservation and Management Plan for Nessebar and the role of all institutions involved in making this event a success.
Guest 1: That’s interesting. How do you think the cultural heritage of Bulgaria can contribute to its global image and positioning on the world stage?
Guest 2: Well, Bulgaria is one of the few countries in the world that has a rich cultural heritage dating back thousands of years, including numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the ancient city of Nessebar, the medieval fortress of Tsarevets, and the Thracian tomb of Kazanluk. By hosting this important event, Bulgaria has an opportunity to showcase its unique history and cultural legacy to the world, which can help attract more tourists, investments, and recognition on the global stage. Furthermore, it can strengthen its partnerships with other countries and international organizations, particularly UNESCO, and potentially lead to new opportunities for collaboration in the field of cultural diplomacy.
Guest 1: That’s a valid point. Moving on, what challenges do you foresee in planning and organizing such an extensive event? And how do you think these challenges can be overcome?
Guest 2: There are several challenges that come with organizing a World Heritage Committee session, including logistical issues such as venue preparation, accommodation, and transport
