National discussion “SOS for cultural heritage”

A national discussion “SOS for Cultural Heritage” with the participation of scientists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences was held today in Sofia. The forum was organized by the Cultural Heritage Society – the Bulgarian representative of the largest European organization for the preservation of cultural heritage “Europa Nostra” and the “Standard” media.

The “Wonders of Bulgaria” initiative marks its 15th anniversary, said Slavka Bozukova, chairwoman of the Cultural Heritage Society, opening the forum and pointing out that this was the 135th discussion on the topic. She said that a memorandum on the protection, development and promotion of Bulgaria’s cultural heritage had already been drafted and would be signed today by those present at the meeting to be submitted to the Council of Ministers and the National Assembly.

The Bulgarian cultural heritage and the development of cultural tourism should be a major national policy, Vice President Iliana Iotova said. She noted that this year marked the 1170th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity in Bulgaria and the 1160th anniversary of the Slavonic script. The Vice President congratulated the Bulgarian scientists who had dedicated themselves to “the wonders”.

Ministers, representatives of the executive and local authorities, scientific institutions, NGOs and the tourism industry discussed topics related to the memorandum. Funds for archaeology, museums, digitisation of libraries, the state strategy for community centres, festivals and traditions were among the highlights of the discussion.

The archaeologist Academician Vassil Nikolov said that the archaeological heritage could be a business card of the country and recalled his call for years to develop a strategy for cultural heritage. Science and culture should be depoliticized, said the director of the National Archaeological Institute with Museum of BAS Assoc. Prof. Hristo Popov. He also outlined the problems facing archaeologists.

Among the objectives of the forum was to outline the state strategy towards the new Wonders of Bulgaria – the Provadia Saltworks, Herakleia Sintica, the Great Basilica in Plovdiv, Kokalyane Urvich, the Kaliakra Fortress and others that are currently being uncovered, and to present the positions of the different sectors related to cultural heritage.