TIRANA, June 22 /ATA/ “The state does not relinquish any responsibility from Butrint National Park”, stated Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro in her reaction to the statements of President Ilir Meta.
“I consider the president’s statement inaccurate, untrue. The state does not relinquish any responsibility when it comes to public cultural heritage. Even if archeological works appear during the excavations in the field of a farmer which is the private property, they are public property by law. The same law provides for two forms of administration: direct and indirect. Direct forms are Apollonia Park, the Opera and Ballet Theater or others, depending on the Ministry of Culture. There is another form, that is the foundations that are the right of every cultural institution of local or central government, to create cultural foundations to attract other funds. Referring to the Paris Convention on Cultural Heritage, that the president mentioned, I say that Article 17 of the Convention reads: the member states of this Convention will encourage private and public foundations whose aim is to invite donations for the protection of cultural and natural property as defined in Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. The foundation is the case when money is donated for a certain cultural destination, with non-profit purposes”, said Kumbaro during a TV show.
President of the Republic considered unacceptable for the state to relinquish any responsibility for assets such as Butrinti, which is of historical significance.
Further on, Minister Kumbaro clarified that the Ministry of Culture has not been deprived of any attribute to Butrint National Park.
“Butrint has not been given to anyone; the Ministry of Culture remains the inalienable administrator of Butrint Park. This does not deprive the Ministry of Culture of any attribute for the management of the park “, said Kumbaro./k.s/j.p/p.s./
