UNESCO to scrutinize reconstruction program for central St. Petersburg
ST. PETERSBURG. June 25 (Interfax) - UNESCO will be ready to assess a large-scale program to reconstruct and restore the historical center of St. Petersburg, being developed by the city authorities, if such a need arises, said UNESCO's World Heritage Center Director Kishore Rao.
He said at a press conference in St. Petersburg on Monday that the program will be scrutinized when it arrives. If the need arises to send UNESCO experts to St. Petersburg, this will be done, he said, adding that UNESCO has not yet given its agreement to implement any projects under this program in the center of the city.
The head of the World Heritage Committee and Russia's permanent envoy to UNESCO Eleonora Mitrofanova said the emergence of a large-scale program for renovating the center of St. Petersburg is a welcome fact.
The city authorities are preparing a large-scale program for the reconstruction and restoration of the city's historical center, including replacement of the infrastructure. The program is intended for five years and the funding is estimated at 300 billion rubles.
