Minister Gashi: We have increased the heritage budget for 30% compared to last year

16.05.2018

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Kujtim Gashi, reported today in the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science, Technology, Culture, Youth, Sports, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the implementation of the Cultural Heritage Program and Policy and the work of the Heritage Cultural Inspectorate.

The Minister informed the MPs that since February when this Inspectorate has started work, has carried out 21 inspections, among them has made three criminal charges for damage to heritage in the country. The Minister also said that MCYS has prepared the concept document for the cultural heritage law to be processed in the Assembly.

Minister emphasized that the implementation of the heritage program has started especially in the completion of the legislation and that MCYS has increased the heritage budget.

"Regarding the implementation of the 2018 program I can say that I have a special commitment in the framework of the implementation of legislation, budget increase for the subordinate institutions and a considerable number of capital projects", said Minister Gashi adding "The budget increase for 2018 in the cultural heritage program is about 1 million compared to 2017 (broken down by about 30%)".

"The 2017 budget in the capital projection was € 3,125,684 while in subsidies € 842,286 until 2018 in the capital projection of € 4,020,000 whereas in subsidies it is the same. A priority has been the establishment of the Cultural Heritage Inspectorate, a legal obligation that has not been fulfilled for more than a decade", the minister explained.

"Based on the MCYS work program, cultural heritage has received a great attention and constitutes one of the main challenges of this ministry. 12 projects have been realized in buildings with a status of protection, while 19 archaeological research projects have been carried out", the minister said.

The Minister also informed the members of the Commission about the preparation of cultural heritage materials and documents. "10 publications have been conducted in the publications. An increased focus on program policies was devoted to 14 projects on spiritual heritage", he said.

Chairman of the commission Ismail Kurteshi said that this meeting aims at increasing cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Cultural Heritage Council, an agency that responds to the Assembly of Kosovo.

The meeting also discussed the Heritage Council, which is expected to be given its mandate and new candidates for this council are to be selected.

Back