site.btaCulture Minister Minekov Confers with French Counterpart Bachelot

November 26 (BTA) - Bulgaria and France will prepare a memorandum of cooperation for building an international cultural center on the Sts. Cyricus and Julitta island near the coastal town of Sozopol, Bulgarian Culture Minister Velislav Minekov and his French counterpart Roselyne Bachelot agreed at a Thursday meeting in Paris, Bulgarian Ministry of Culture said in a press release here on Friday.

The project aims to promote cultural heritage and arts. The center will be a meeting place for artists and will provide environment for their professional development. It will also contribute to national and international tourism's development.

Both Minekov and Bachelot have expressed satisfaction with the election of Bulgaria as a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

Discussing the Sts. Cyricus and Julitta project, Minekov has told Bachelot that Bulgaria is looking for EU funding for the restoration and conservation of all buildings on the island.

Minekov and Bachelot also discussed the Bulgarian-French project for training Bulgarian architects in preserving cultural heritage. French school Chaillot, National Institute of Immovable Cultural Heritage and University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy in Sofia are part of the programme, which is unique for the Balkans.

In Paris, Minekov also met with UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, the Culture Ministry said. The two sides discussed conservation of cultural heritage and potential future cooperation. Ramirez has accepted Minekov's invitation to visit Bulgaria soon and to get acquainted with its rich cultural heritage, including the Sts. Cyricus and Julitta island.