Today, the fate of some of the world’s most treasured Minoan landmarks is still mired in a European bureaucratic bog.
UNESCO
Last Battle of the Minoans: Crete’s Bid for UNESCO Recognition
A pitched battle is being waged over the inclusion of ancient Minoan palaces as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Recap: 3rd UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture
On the agenda of the 3rd UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture event held December 3-5, in Istanbul, Turkey, stakeholders discussed cultural tourism as fundamental for a sustainable future.
UNESCO Includes Pafos in Itenerary of “Romantic Europe”
The Department of Antiquities and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation announce their participation in the “World Heritage Journeys”, developed by UNESCO in collaboration with National Geographic, for the creation, for the first time, of a web platform dedicated to the promotion of sustainable travel to some of the most remarkable World Heritage sites in Europe.
UNESCO Moves to Protect Georgian Christian Monuments
UNESCO has awarded historical monuments of the ancient capital of Georgia, Mtskheta special enhanced protections in light of armed conflict. The new status of three epic monuments there is seen as a plea from the UNESCO World Heritage for combatants to refrain from fighting in the areas where these monuments are found.
Russia’s Medvedev Takes Steps to Preserve Solovetsky Archipelago
Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev just signed a decree aimed at improving the infrasturcture and preserving the cultural heritage of the Solovetsky Archipelago.
Kraków UNESCO City of Literature
Last month Kraków was named a UNESCO City of Literature, only the 7th city to hold the prestigious title along with Edinburgh, Melbourne, Iowa City, Dublin, Reykjavík, and Norwich in England.
Białowieża Forest, Where Bison Have Come Back from the Brink
There are few travelers to Poland that won’t have come across the local variety of vodka, Zubrowka, at least once on their travels. Zubrowka is memorable not just because of its potency
Armenia & Russian Agree on Cultural Cooperation
Last Friday a program of cooperation between the ministries of culture of Armenia and the Russian Federation was penned at Armenia’s Ministry of Culture in Yerevan. Armenia’s Minister of Culture, Hasmik Poghosyan (at left) and Russian Federation Minister Andrei Busygin appeared for the press at the announcement.
CNN Features New Eye On Ukraine Series
CNN will highlight politics, culture, and business in Ukraine in the new series, Eye On Ukraine (a feature in CNN’s international Eye On programming). The new attention comes on the heels of CNN reporter, Max Foster’s coverage of the June 2012 European Football Championship, which took place in Ukraine.
Bulgaria Ski Zone Expansion Angers UNESCO
UNESCO are threatening to take action in Bulgaria over controversial plans to expand the Bansko Ski Zone, site of last month’s Audi FiS Alpine World Cup, into protected lands.
A Cultural Treasure – Festival Kihnu Sea Festivity 2011
Visitors to Estonia will have a new cultural treat to enjoy, as the Festival Kihnu Sea Festivity 2011 takes the country’s fisherman’s tradition a step farther. Beginning Friday and ending on Sunday, the Kihnu Cultural Space, in connection with Kihnu Parish Government and the Kihnu Sea Society, present an inaugural festival.
Russia Ready For Tourists – Bureaucrats Are Not
The Russian Federation faces some big challenges ahead. Not the least of these is transforming the country’s travel and tourism industry to be on a par with other developed nations. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and some of his deputies seem tasked more with spurring an inept bureaucracy than tackling infrastructure problems. Roads can be built, but incompetence seems to last forever.
Falconry, a Living Human Heritage Still Preserved in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic joins the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, France, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain and the Syrian Arab Republic in this year’s proposed nomination for falconry on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Sutartinės, Lithuania’s Music Gems, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Candidates
In an effort to preserve the essence, and the tradition, Lithuania has proposed the Sutartinės for inclusion on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity 2010.