International Conference, organized by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway and the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU), in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria, was held on September 17 in Sofia Hotel Balkan.
The conference was opened with speeches by H.E. Guro Katharina H. Vikør, Ambassador of Norway in Bulgaria; Ms. Mariyana Kordova – coordinator of EEA Financial Mechanism; Ms. Denitsa Nikolova, Deputy Minister of Regional Development of the Republic of Bulgaria; Ms. Boni Petrunova, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The international conference was attended by Mr. Kiril Arnautski – Chairman of Sozopol Foundation and Ms. Lyubov Draganova – chief expert of International Programmes and projects at the Foundation.
At the conference was presented the contribution of Norway for reduction of economic and social disparities in Europe through funding of programs for protection and revitalization of cultural heritage within the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. It was emphasized on potential of cultural heritage to stimulate regional economic development and job creation for vulnerable groups.
At the conference Mr. Arnautski talked to H.E. Guro Katharina H. Vikør,
with Mr. Sheamus Cassidy, a representative of the Office of the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism,
with Mr. Carsten Paludan-Müller, CEO of the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU),
with Mr. Inge Lindblom, scientific advisor at the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU).
