News
Gorica Bridge at Berat, Connecting People of South Eastern Europe
On Saturday 29 March 2014, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, together with the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Albania, Mirela Kumbaro, visited the World Heritage site of Berat and attended the third edition of the sub-regional event of the 鈥楤alkan Bridges Speak鈥 project organized within the framework of UNESCO鈥檚 global initiative 鈥淐ulture: A Bridge to Development.鈥
During the meeting with the Minister of Culture the Director-General emphasized the excellent cooperation in the field of culture between Albania and UNESCO. They discussed possible areas to enhance collaboration in the near future, by using culture as a tool for sustainable development, strengthening national capacities to safeguard and manage the rich cultural heritage of the country and to develop the vivid creativity of its artists.
At the occasion of the third event of the 鈥楤alkan Bridges Speak鈥 organized by the Balkanika Foundation and the Municipality of Berat with the support of UNESCO, the Director-General reiterated the crucial role played by bridges in linking people, establishing dialogue towards reconciliation, and connecting the future and the past, so as to make the most of our diversity as a force for creativity, for mutual understanding and enrichment.
The Director-General was especially pleased and moved at receiving from the Mayor of Berat, Mr Fadil Nasufi, the distinction of honorary citizen of Berat, underlining that this is creating an additional commitment for her to promote inter-religious harmony of this World Heritage city.
