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  The 9th World Congress of the Organization of World heritage Cities (OWHC) will be held June 19-23, 2007 in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation. The congress is organized by the City of Kazan and the Organization of World Heritage Cities and includes a scientific program developed by the Getty Conservation Institute.

The Organization of World heritage cities is unique forum which, every two years, brings together politicians and professionals, committed to the preservation of historic cities and, in particular, those cities included on UNESCO?s World Heritage List. Since the first symposium held in 1991, this event has enabled participants to discuss various topics of common interest and to share their concerns and experiences.  It has also underscored the dynamism and open-mindedness of the organization.   


Congress theme

  The theme of the scientific program to be developed during the 9th OWHC Congress is ?Heritage and Economics?.

 The cultural heritage of historic cities is often perceived as a major asset for economic development and an important source of income for the city and its inhabitants.  However, heritage has other values that must be safeguarded and considered in the management of historic cities.  

 The purpose of the scientific program is to evaluate the relationship between heritage and economics and to address the challenges and opportunities this represents for the management of historic cities.  The various scientific sessions will focus on the over-riding question:

How can heritage preservation contribute to the sustainable economic development of a city while safeguarding its cultural integrity?




The scientific program will be articulated through a variety of activities and formats including:

  Four invited keynote presentations on the following topics:

• Overview of heritage and economics ? an empirical approach
• How to promote economic development based on heritage and to share the benefits of economic development?
• How to manage development pressures?
• Practical legislative, financial and planning tools

These keynote presentations will be followed by structured discussions in each of the conference languages in which participants can exchange experiences and respond to the issues raised.  Conclusions and recommendations emerging from the discussions will be presented in the concluding session of the Congress.

Pre-Congress Mayors'  Workshop and a Panel of Mayors on the theme: ?Is tourism enough??

A poster session
Participants can present specific experiences and case studies related to the theme.  A call for posters with details of sub-themes and format will be outlined in the second announcement.

A student program
Through a competitive process, a number of student groups from educational institutions in Kazan will be invited to develop projects on the conference theme.  These projects will be presented during a special session of the Congress and discussed with other students and conference participants.   

Languages

The languages in official use during the conference will be English, French, Spanish, Russian and Tatar. Simultaneous translation from and to these languages will be provided.

Venue
The conference will be held in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation. Located 700 km southeast of Moscow, Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan and one of Russia?s oldest Tatar cities. Built on an ancient site, the Kazan Kremlin dates from the Muslim period of the Golden Horde and the Kazan Khanate. It was conquered by Ivan the Terrible in 1552 and became the Christian See of the Volga Land. The only surviving Tatar fortress in Russia and an important place of pilgrimage, the Kazan Kremlin consists of an outstanding group of historic buildings dating from the 16th to 19th centuries, integrating remains of earlier structures of the 10th to 16th centuries.


Cultural program

Site seeing of Kazan.
Ship tour on the Great Russian Volga river.
Participation in Tatar national festival "Sabantuy".
Familiarization with the national cuisine and culture of ethnic groups of Tatarstan
and others
Congress Organizing Committee

The 9th OWHC World Congress steering committee was set up by the city of Kazan and Euro-Asia Secretariat of the OWHC to organize the Congress.

Scientific Program Advisory Committee

The 9th OWHC World Congress scientific program advisory committee was created to guide the preparation of the Congress theme and the selection of presentations.  It is composed of several international experts from the field of economics and heritage as well as representatives of the Getty Conservation Institute, the OWHC and the City of Kazan.

REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION ON-LINE HERE
Registration form for print is here

Contact information

Registration forms send by e-mail: congress9@yandex.ru
or by fax +7 843 2920934

Mr. Ilsour Metshin
Mayor of Kazan
Kazan City Municipality, 1, Kremlevskaya Street,
Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420014
Tel.: +7 (843) 2991818
Fax: +7 (843) 2991546

Ms. Ludmila Andreeva
Deputy Chair of Kazan City Duma
Kazan City Duma, 1, Kremlevskaya Street,
Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420014
Tel.: +7 (843) 2991830
Fax: +7 (843) 2991843

Regional coordinator of the OWHC for Euro-Asia
Mr. Rassikh Sagitov
Tel.: +7 843 2991844, 2907073

Euro-Asia Secretariat of the OWHC
23, Ostrovsky street, Kazan, Russia, 420111
Tel./fax : +7 843 2920934
E-mail: euroasia_owhc@yahoo.com

Organization of World Heritage Cities
www.ovpm.org

Getty Conservation Institute
www.getty.edu