The money allocated from the state budget for restoring and conserving the historical monuments of Moldova is insufficient. Only several million lei is annually allocated for the purpose, Minister of Culture Monica Babuc said, quoted by IPN.

The minister told a news conference that the archeological restoration works are very costly. “The National Museum of Arts has been restored for 10 years. Only slightly more than 17 million lei of the necessary 32 million lei has been transferred so far. The situation is much the same at the Organ Hall, which is be restored at a cost of 21 million lei. Its restoration started 8 years ago and only 6 million lei has been allocated for the purpose so far,” said Monica Babuc.

She also said that the works will be further financed with a grant of €3 million provided by Romania. Of this sum, by €1 million will go to restore the two cultural buildings, while €800,000 will be invested in the construction of the new building of the Cahul Theater “B.P Hasdeu”. The strategy for restoring the historical monuments will be modified so as to attract investments.

Director general of the Agency for Monument Inspection and Restoration Ion Stefanita said the wooden churches should also be restored as 24 such churches were destroyed during the last 20 years. The lordly mansions must also be restored as they were included in a tourist route that is now the route of ruins. The over 50 monasteries of Moldova are exposed to risks by inappropriate restoration actions.

On April 18, it is celebrated the International Day for Monuments and Sites, which was instituted by the United National Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) in 1983.