waz.euobserver.com
VESSELIN ZHELEV
22.11.2010 @ 09:40 CET
A squad of riot police was dispatched to a historical Bulgarian seaside town to secure order when citizens tried to stop the destruction of illegal buildings built in defiance of strict architectural codes.
The ancient part of Nessebar, an architectural reserve on the Unesco world heritage list, was founded at the end of the Bronze Age by the Thracians and contains ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine and medieval Bulgarian remains.
22.11.2010 @ 09:40 CET
A squad of riot police was dispatched to a historical Bulgarian seaside town to secure order when citizens tried to stop the destruction of illegal buildings built in defiance of strict architectural codes.
The ancient part of Nessebar, an architectural reserve on the Unesco world heritage list, was founded at the end of the Bronze Age by the Thracians and contains ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine and medieval Bulgarian remains.
Unesco had warned it might drop Nessebar from its heritage list because of illegal construction that has mushroomed in the chaos following the end of communism 21 years ago. Citizens had been protesting against the demolition of seven illegal buildings in the town but in the end there was no violence.
The residential and commercial buildings are said to spoil the authentic view of the stone and ceramic churches and wooden houses lining the narrow and winding cobblestone streets. Many visitors have also been annoyed by the pervasive street trade in souvenirs and clothes that has marred the romantic atmosphere of old Nessebar.
The town is located next to Sunny Beach, Bulgaria's largest Black Sea resort, and attracts hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers from all over the world each summer.
Local authorities have ordered the instant demolition of illegal buildings in Nessebar as a part of a nationwide campaign. The order promptly triggered angry street protests by the building owners, who said they would not object to Unesco dropping Nessebar from its list.
"We, Bulgarians, support the rule of law as long as it doesn't concern us personally," said culture minister Vezhdi Rashidov. "They have to realise that it is history and architecture that attract tourists to Nessebar. People don't come here to take photos of the Chinese goods in the street markets and the fridges of their landlords."
In the past, the authorities were lenient and willing to compromise but now they have become ruthless. Police in full riot gear were sent in to dissuade protesters and a group of inmates were brought in from a nearby prison to do the demolition work. As a result, most of the owners volunteered to tear down the illegal buildings themselves.
The residential and commercial buildings are said to spoil the authentic view of the stone and ceramic churches and wooden houses lining the narrow and winding cobblestone streets. Many visitors have also been annoyed by the pervasive street trade in souvenirs and clothes that has marred the romantic atmosphere of old Nessebar.
The town is located next to Sunny Beach, Bulgaria's largest Black Sea resort, and attracts hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers from all over the world each summer.
Local authorities have ordered the instant demolition of illegal buildings in Nessebar as a part of a nationwide campaign. The order promptly triggered angry street protests by the building owners, who said they would not object to Unesco dropping Nessebar from its list.
"We, Bulgarians, support the rule of law as long as it doesn't concern us personally," said culture minister Vezhdi Rashidov. "They have to realise that it is history and architecture that attract tourists to Nessebar. People don't come here to take photos of the Chinese goods in the street markets and the fridges of their landlords."
In the past, the authorities were lenient and willing to compromise but now they have become ruthless. Police in full riot gear were sent in to dissuade protesters and a group of inmates were brought in from a nearby prison to do the demolition work. As a result, most of the owners volunteered to tear down the illegal buildings themselves.
waz.euobserver.com
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου