Failure with the UNESCO forum household brought out a bunch of organizational problems
The Fiasco with the Bulgarian House of the UNESCO Forum showed different aspects of the administration's inability to accept such a large -scale event – cumbersome procedures, variety in the actions of individual institutions, contradictory assessments. After yesterday's official refusal of the Ministry of Culture to accept the delegates of the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, political attacks from the opposition to the executive to the executive branch were followed today, with the protesters of the tourism business, and there were doubts about the real reasons for the Bulgarian household to be transferred from Sofia to Paris.
In the Parliament « Revival » and « We continue the change – Democratic Bulgaria » today commented on the refusal as an international failure and blow to the authority of Bulgaria, and Toshko Yordanov of « There is such a people » defended the Minister of Culture Marian Bachev (raised to the post of the party and that he did the only thing « in this weld. The transfer of responsibility from the regular to the official power continued.
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The Prime Minister outlined a number of organizational problems:
- UNLOCKED PUBLIC ORDERS FOR OCLUSIONS
- Inability to issue visas to thousands of participants
- a negative opinion from the Services
« We have found zero preparation. The whole logistics network that should be in Bulgaria is so complicated that it cannot catch up with the lost time from July to February for 3 months. There is not a single organized public contract for accommodation. » The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said they had major problems with visa issuance because nearly 4,000 people from 200 countries should participate in the event.
| The prime minister said he had requested SWOT analysis from organizations and services, but there was no opinion that would optimism that for three months the household would be organized in Sofia. |
According to Renaissance, Bulgaria has refused to host UNESCO because of summer holidays
« Bulgaria has no diplomatic and consular services in most of the UNESCO countries. This means that if a person from such a state wants to take a visa, the Bulgarian state must provide him with a flight from his country of habitat to a country where we have a diplomatic and consular representation.
He specified that Bulgaria has already secured the necessary funds for the events themselves within the forum. « They are much less than if it was held in Bulgaria. It is about $ 2 million, and in Saudi Arabia, the UNESCO Forum cost 20 million euros, » the Prime Minister.
Discrepancies
The MP from « We continue the change – Democratic Bulgaria » and publisher Manol Peikov told the media that there was information that there was a resistance to organize the household for a long time at the administrative level. « There is no desire for any reason to happen and this is not in the Ministry of Culture. This is the decision of the prime minister. We have information that it was taken ten days ago, » he said.
Peikov said that justification for the lack of time for organization is dust in the eyes of people and there is something else behind this decision. Asked if there was a suggestion of what political reasons could be, he replied that there was no such that there was a lack of desire in the administration and did not know if it was related to geopolitical changes in the world.
« Huge fiasco » and « absolutely inexplicable » – is his assessment of the actions of the executive branch.
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Peikov also drew attention to the discrepancy in the assessments of the international organization and the current quality cabinet of the apodation. Yesterday, following the announcement of the refusal, the MP published on Facebook a formal letter from the UNESCO headquarters of February 4, which marks the tremendous progress in the preparation of the household at the session in Sofia and that they are sure that it will be a great success. Only a month later, however, it is already claimed that there is no organization and that the household will be held in Paris within the planned dates-July 6-16, 2025.
As early as February 18, Peykov sent an official letter, looking for an answer when the household agreement would be signed and to which official was currently entrusted with the responsibility of chairing the Organizing Committee of the event. In it, he emphasizes how it is of strategic importance for Bulgaria and how the refusal of the household would have serious consequences – both reputable and material.
He received a written response from Minister Marian Bachev yesterday, shortly before the announcement of the location of the session, which also published on Facebook. In it, the decision is justified by the services. The Minister writes that « the analysis of the ministries and services involved show that they do not have sufficient capacity and human resources that can mobilize in such a short time without endangering other key elements of the country's security and the normal functioning of the institutions. »
| The reply states that public procurement, securing the activities of the household organization, cannot be carried out on time and there has been no comprehensive budget. |
No remarks but (without) actions
« We have to clarify that at every stage of the UNESCO household organization, they confirmed that we have a high degree of readiness and that we are gorgeous to deal with the organization and they have no remarks. Therefore, our decision is absolutely unilateral to give up the household of the session.
She stressed that this meeting was intended to strengthen Bulgaria's positions in UNESCO and to maintain the status of cultural and historical heritage. « This will not only not happen, but we are in an extremely risky situation in which to lose our status as a country with extremely many sites of cultural and historical importance, » she said.
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Manol Peykov recalled that last year, a preliminary memorandum was signed in July with support from the parliament that Bulgaria would host the session. « This has not happened in 40 years and it is unlikely that 40 more will happen, » he added.
Revival also shows commitment to the topic. Bulgaria has abandoned its household so as not to violate the summer vacations of the responsible factors in the ministries of the external and the interior, the MP Angel Yanchev suggested from the parliamentary rostrum.
In response, there was a statement from « There is such a people », in which Toshko Yordanov pointed out that « the reported activities are formal -technical only inspections of halls and online conversations! And because there is no budget – work stops there. » According to the UNESCO delegation, she demanded the retrofit of the National Palace of Culture with a new sound technique, but there was neither money nor time to do. « Our UNESCO partners showed a complete understanding and support and immediately began consultations on what the best could be done to save the Bulgarian household at the 47th World Heritage Committee session, because it was strongly found that in this short time, no. This is also the evaluation of our UNESCO partners, « is the reading of » There is such a people « of events.
Chronology
In a decision E543 of July 30, 2024 it is stated that the Council of Ministers approves the submission of Prof. Nikolay Nenov's candidacy as chairman of the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, as well as approves its holding in Sofia in July 2025. It authorizes the Minister of Culture to take the necessary actions for notification to the notification of YNO.
Through January 2025 The Minister of Culture, Nayden Todorov, sends a detailed report from 14 pages to Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev with all stages of the progress of the activities focused on the preparation and implementation of the household, which affect the Ministry of Culture, describing the next stages of the organization.
It mentions that the development of an indicative detail budget for the preparation and conduct of the event is at the final stage and according to the time limits should have been finalized on January 17th.
| On January 31st had to sign a final contract with the National Palace of Culture, a on February 7th – Public contracts to be announced. |
At a separate point, Nayden Todorov indicates the challenges of the organization of the session. « The household agreement defines the financial parameters for the organization of the session. We express a serious concern that a budget for the organization of the session is not provided in the draft budget for 2025, proposed by the Ministry of Finance. Report.
Over December 2024 He has proposed the organizing committee to prepare the 47th World Heritage Committee session under the leadership of the Council of Ministers, because this will provide better coordination between all ministries, especially on issues such as security, visa and other aspects on which the Minister of Culture has no legitimacy.
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The capital is deprived of millions of levs income
The municipal councilors from the group of « We continue the change – Democratic Bulgaria (Save Sofia) » also came out with a position. It states that this is a heavy blow to the international prestige not only of Sofia but also a serious economic loss.
« Our capital is deprived of millions of levs of tourism, hotel, restaurant and cultural events. We missed the historical opportunity and a chance to position Sofia as a significant center of the world cultural map and to attract the attention of hundreds of international delegates and guests of Bulgaria. »
According to them, the refusal is a recognition of the inability of the Bulgarian institutions to organize an event on a global scale and shows a lack of desire and political will to be presented as an active participant in the conservation of world culture. « The delay in the organization, referred to as the reason for the refusal, is not an excuse – it is a diagnosis. This is the result of a lack of coordination, incompetence and unwillingness to take responsibility. Any government that allows such a failure must bear political consequences, » their position writes.
Organizations of the tourism business were also announced against the decision.
« Dnevnik » sought a conversation on the topic with Prof. Dr. Nikolay Nenov, who was appointed chairman of the forum, but from his team they stated that he was abroad and was unable to answer any questions. The publication also expects answers from the press center of the Ministry of Culture.
