MAE suggests changing status of Agency for Monument Inspection and Restoration

Historian Iurie Colesnic, the vice president of the European Action Movement (MAE), emphasizes that the monuments in Moldova are not adequately protected. According to him, about 200 monuments disappeared or were irremediably modified during the last 20 years in Chisinau alone, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The architectural patrimony is in a catastrophic situation. We want to become part of Europe, but have nothing to show and boast of,” Iurie Colesnic said Friday in front of a building that was erected in 1858 and now houses a creation workshop of the students of the Academy of Music, Theater and Plastic Art. In the past, it was the holiday house of Serbian Queen Natalie Keshko. “Protecting the buildings listed as historical monuments is a condition provided on the ownership documents even. But the legislation is now incomplete and is not implemented,” Iurie Colesnic said. He stressed that the Parliament should immediately adopt a decision to set up a state agency for the protection of historical, cultural and architectural monuments that will manage and supervise the monuments and take legal action against those who profane them. It should also draw up a register of all the national monuments. Iurie Colesnic said the Ministry of Culture's Agency for Monument Inspection and Restoration is not able to swiftly intervene in crisis situations. Thus, the status of the Agency should be changed so that it adopt a new approach to the patrimony-related issues. There are over 100 buildings that are considered architectural monuments in Chisinau. Recently, the Agency for Monument Inspection and Restoration informed that 80% of the national monuments are in an advanced state of degradation.