Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan/Assessment of the Architectural and Archaeological Heritage 2003-2005 (IRPP/SAAH)

Press release

02.09.2004.

The Council of Europe, working in association with the European Commission, has drawn up a Regional Cultural and Natural Heritage Programme for South-Eastern Europe.  Work began on the programme in 2003, and is due to be completed in 2005.  The regional programme includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FRY Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia & Montenegro, and Rumania.  Bosnia and Herzegovina is represented by the Commission to Preserve National Monuments, and the Council of  Europe has appointed Amra Hadžimuhamedović, a member of the Commission, as programme coordinator for BiH.

One of the three components of the Regional Programme is the Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan/Assessment of the Architectural and Archaeological Heritage (IRPP/SAAH).  The Council of Europe has appointed Mirela Mulalić Handan, who was nominated by the Commission to Preserve National Monuments, as project coordinator for BiH.

The aim of the project is to bring heritage protection and conservation in the countries of South-Eastern Europe in line with the norms and standards applied in the countries of the European Union.

The Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan consists of four stages, of which the first two have been carried out: National Assessment Reports on the state of the architectural and archaeological heritage, and the Prioritized Intervention List – PIL

The National Assessment Report on the state of the architectural and archaeological heritage is a brief overview of the state of the heritage in BiH as regards physical and legal protection, management and education.

The Prioritized Intervention List consists of 20 National Monuments of BiH, including historic buildings, architectural groups and areas, which are regarded as of particular importance for the European heritage and as priorities requiring urgent protection measures.

The continuation of the project, consisting of drawing up Preliminary Technical Assessments – PTA – for the projects on the PIL list, should make it possible to secure foreign investments and to investigate opportunities for developing private-public sector partnerships.

The Council of Europe has published the findings of the first two, completed stages of the project for each participating country in its publication Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan – National Assessment Reports on the state of the architectural and archaeological heritage.

Local development strategies must rely principally on their own resources; and the cultural and historical heritage is one of the major resources and potential for development.  As a result, the Council of Europe expects the institutions of government in BiH to ensure that this project is integrated into sustainable development programmes and strategies at the Bosnia and Herzegovina State level.