Ljutkov: Public-private partnership for presentation of cultural heritage already exists in law, the state will have a benefit
No one has ever or did not want or have the capacity to realize the idea of a public-private partnership for reviving and protecting cultural heritage, which as a model exists in the Law on Cultural Heritage Protection since 2004, Culture and Tourism Minister Zoran Shutkov said in a Sitel TV.
Clarify that this mainly refers to the construction of infrastructure – roads and lighting, opening souvenirs, cafeterias, bookstores or associated facilities that will manage the private sector, but that it will not enter the zones of protected cultural heritage and that everything will be controlled.
-This is an accompanying program in which the private sector will help us to better present cultural heritage. Something that has been abolished in the last seven years. Our cultural heritage was in the dark, with terrible vegetation – said Ljutkov, listing the sites he visited that was closed and without access due to neglect and vegetation.
He pointed out that it is important that the private sector also enters the tour operators who, as he said, will present our cultural heritage « and it will enter cultural routes and maps ».
The state will have the benefit of this model, said Sutkov. He pointed out that the law is 20 years old and changes are needed to facilitate the process and that therefore tourism segment has become part of the ministry.
As he said, « another theme is to concession the cultural heritage that should be a step further », following the example of many European countries preserving cultural heritage.
Opposition parties, he said, accused him of « doing business and selling cultural heritage » for something that already exists in law. SDSM and Levica said, making spins that he would have profited.
-No, they did that before because our cultural heritage was left in the dark. How will you present it if it is unclear and if not protected – added the Minister of Culture and Tourism.
