The Agency for Landmark Inspection and Restoration (AIRM) in 2017 found no case of monuments being illegally demolished, which indicates that this tendency seen in the previous years has been stopped.

In a response to IPN, AIRM highlighted the ongoing restoration of the Organ Hall as one of this year’s biggest achievements.

“The restoration project is funded by the Romanian Government. The former City Bank, which crumbling, is currently undergoing restoration, approaching the conclusion of the first phase of the project”, said AIRM.

“The Organ Hall building was erected in 1901 and is a national historical landmark. Renovating it is one of the Ministry’s priorities”, said the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Another achievement in the field of landmark preservation highlighted by both AIRM and the Ministry is the commencement of renovation works at the Dormition of the Mother of God Church in Căușeni.

The renovation project is part of the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) and is implemented by the Center for Archaeological Research of Moldova. The project will foster conditions for returning the site back into the public circuit, putting to use the cultural, educational, tourism and economic value of an important South-East European heritage site.

A third achievement, according to AIRM, was the launching of the Chisinau City of Lights brand. “This was possible due to the involvement of French architects from Alain Guilhot Lumiere and the Renaissance de Vieux Lyon Association. These cooperation efforts aim at raising social awareness and promoting responsible attitudes towards the conservation and restoration of cultural and historic heritages of Moldova, following the good practices of France.”

Other achievements of 2017 included the renovation of the National Museum of Arts’s main building and of the Moldova State University’s Second Block.