Press Release

Seminar to conserve and promote Historic Walled Cities - The Croatian Way

Wednesday, 06 December 2006

Conserving and promoting built heritage within a historic walled city context will be the subject matter to be discussed at a public seminar in the City today (Wednesday 6th December).

Organised by Derry City Council’s Economic Development Section, the public seminar will focus on the restoration of the historic Croatian city of Dubrovnik located on the edge of the Adriatic Coast.

Dubrovnik is a walled city and dates back to 300 BC., and is also a UNESCO world heritage site. The seminar will be presented by two leading officials from Dubrovnik namely Mr. Vjekoslav Vierda (Director of the Institute for the Restoration of Dubrovnik) and Professor Kate Bagogi (Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities).

In more recent times during the early 1990’s Dubrovnik was affected by the war in Croatia and suffered damage to many of its key buildings both within and on the outside of the historic walled fortification. The City has now come out of conflict and has underwent an impressive conservation-led reconstruction phase resulting in it becoming a major tourist attraction and destination.

The Mayor, Cllr Helen Quigley said she was delighted that the Council was hosting such an important seminar.

She said: “Derry has established links with the City of Dubrovnik, given similarities in that they are both walled cities, have come out of a conflict situation and are striving to develop their respective tourism products and offer. In September, a delegation led by Derry City Council attended an international conference in Dubrovnik focusing on the development of walled cities. During this event, the Derry delegation met with officials from Dubrovnik’s City Government to discuss potential collaboration in future projects etc. I am delighted that this seminar is taking place in Derry to further strengthen and develop that relationship.”

The Chairperson of the Council’s Development Committee, Cllr Maeve McLaughlin welcomed the public seminar by stating: “Derry and Dubrovnik have significant common areas of interest and it is hoped that the seminar can give people the opportunity to learn from the experiences of the guest speakers. I also hope that we can further our relationship with Dubrovnik, as Derry progresses with its efforts to gain international recognition for its historic walls”.

The seminar will take place on Wednesday 6th December 2006 at 12 noon in the City Hotel and is open to members of the public and is free admission.

Ends

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