site.btaCulture Minister Rashidov Pays Visit to France

Culture Minister Rashidov Pays Visit to France

Sofia, December 9 (BTA) - France has adamantly supported Bulgarian Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov for the drafting of European regulations relevant to the import and export of cultural goods. The regulation should be completed in 2018 during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. France is also ready to participate in a special conference focused on the problems of the fight against the traffic of movable cultural property, the Culture Ministry said Friday.

Rashidov payed a brief working visit to France on December 8.

Bulgaria provided the French Ministry of Culture and Communications with a draft Memorandum of Agreement to prevent the theft, illegal excavation and illegal imports and exports or transfer of ownership of movable cultural property, as well as to encourage their return.

The French side also hailed Rashidov's idea for an exhibition of valuable works from all EU countries in Brussels during Bulgaria's Chairmanship.

Rashidov conferred with President Director of the Louvre, Jean-Luc Martinez, and discussed concrete proposals for the implementation of the second five-year agreement between Bulgaria and the renowned museum.

The sides agreed on a new Bulgarian exhibition at the Louvre, this time featuring unique pieces from the Bulgarian Middle Ages. A team of the Louvre will visit Bulgaria in February 2017 to select the exhibits.

In turn, the Louvre will present in Bulgaria an exhibition titled "Founding Myths" featuring valuable pieces of art.

In another development, the Bulgarian Ambassador in Paris, Angel Cholakov, presented the former President Director of the Louvre, Henri Loyrette, with the Order of St. Cyril and St. Methodius, First Degree, for his contribution to the dissemination of Bulgarian culture in France. The ceremony was also attended by Rashidov.