Architects and historians dissatisfied with abrogation of Register of Important Monuments

Architects and historians of Moldova expressed their dissatisfaction with the Chisinau councilors’ decision to abrogate the Register of Important Monuments and formulate a new document whereby to protect the municipal monuments. They say that many historical buildings in Chisinau and other property is left unprotected and that certain interests are being pursued. In a letter to the Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca, they demand that the mistake is corrected. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, Sergiu Musteata, president of the Association of Historians of Moldova, said that they cannot understand wht the local authorities took such a decision. “A register is abrogated when it is replaced with a new one immediately, but there is no new register at present. Now, the monuments and historical buildings in the municipality of Chisinau are not protected. The law on monument protection of 1993 clearly says that they can be protected only if they are included in the register of monuments,” Musteata said. The historical buildings older than 50 arouse special concern. “The old city practically does not exist anymore,” said the president of the Association of Historians. The letter to the mayor says that “the abrogation of the register will lead to the appearance of a dangerous vacuum in the existent legislation on the protection of Chisinau’s cultural monuments and those for whom the personal economic interests are more important than the cultural interests of the country would not hesitate using this vacuum.” “The register wouldn’t have been abrogated if certain interests hadn’t been pursued. We will see the next days, weeks, months which buildings in Chisinau will be destroyed, bought or reconstructed,” Sergiu Musteata stated for Info-Prim Neo. Tudor Zbarnea, director of the National Museum of Arts, thinks that the mistake can be corrected if “those that made it will immediately collect information”. He said that he personally does not know cases when certain economic interests are pursued, but most probably the assumptions are based on the fact that “some economic entities work with the bulldozer at night”. The fat that the register was abrogated before formulating a new one is inadmissible as the monuments should not be left without protection, even for 24 hours, Tudor Zbarnea said. “The inventorying needed to work out a new register will take time. This could be done in parallel, by including the monuments that were not incorporated in the register and excluding those that do not exist anymore.” Deputy mayor Nistor Grozavu, who is responsible for the given area, has told Info-Prim Neo that the signatories of the letter do not have reasons for concern because the monuments will be further protected as they were also included in the register of monuments of national and municipal importance. “We are trying to put things right. We will devise a new register that will include only the monuments of local importance. Before adopting the decision, it was stressed that no monument remains unprotected,” Nistor Grozavu said. "We want the new register to include the monuments that have been covered by none of the documents and will strike off those that do no more exist.” On May 19, the Chisinau Municipal Council decided to formulate a new register of monuments of municipal importance as the old one in force since 1995 has never been updated though it had to be reviewed once in three years.