Russia prepares for UNESCO approval procedure to reconstruct Kremlin ensemble — diplomat

Russia August 14, 2014, 18:12

“We need not only to prevent possible damage to the Kremlin status but to use world practice available via UNESCO for a highly professional and authentic reconstruction,” she says

PARIS, August 14. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia has thorough preparation for approval procedure in UNESCO ahead of it to reconstruct the original layout of the Moscow Kremlin, which has been on UNESCO World Heritage list since 1990, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the organization Eleonora Mitrofanova said on Thursday.

“We know examples of reconstructed buildings and edifices, including those located on world heritage sites,” she said adding approval procedure would not be completed overnight.

“This is a long process that consists of many stages,” she said. “We need not only to prevent possible damage to the Kremlin status but to use world practice available via UNESCO for a highly professional and authentic reconstruction.”

Once UNESCO receives Russia’s official documents, the organization is to request examination by several bodies of the World Heritage Committee. Their recommendations will be then referred to the Committee.

The next, 39th session of the Committee will be held in Bonn, Germany, in the June or July 2015. The task of the Russian bodies involved is to prepare a valid and comprehensive feasibility study and present it to UNESCO on time, said Mitrofanova.

Considering a project, UNESCO took into account a wide range of factors, such as authenticity of construction and conservation materials as well as public and architectural community opinion, said the diplomat. The organization will also consider management schemes and construction risks for the entire ensemble.

Late in July, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to consider reconstruction of Voznesensky convent and Chudov monastery destroyed by the Soviet authorities in 1929-1930.

Chudov monastery was located in the Kremlin’s eastern part on Ivanovskaya Square. Legend has it that Metropolitan Alexius founded it in 1365. Voznesensky convent that stood near the Spasskaya Tower close to the Kremlin wall is believed to have been founded by the wife of the Prince of Moscow, Dmitry Donskoy, Grand Princess Yevdokiaya, in 1386.

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