Riga councilmen blame State Cultural Monument Protection Inspection for violating UNESCO recommendations on construction projects
In reviewing the issue of construction of the "Saules akmens" (Sun Stone) business complex in Kipsala, Riga City Council^apostrofs;s City Development Committee deputies expressed the view that the State Cultural Monument Protection Inspection possibly had disregarded recommendations from UNESCO, in pushing through projects in the historic center of Riga.
In reviewing the issue of construction of the "Saules akmens" (Sun Stone) business complex in Kipsala, Riga City Council's City Development Committee deputies expressed the view that the State Cultural Monument Protection Inspection possibly had disregarded recommendations from UNESCO, in pushing through projects in the historic center of Riga.
LETA has failed to contact the head of the State Cultural Monument Protection Inspection, Juris Dambis, today.
Vilnis Strams, the head of the Riga City Council's City Development Department, informed the councilmen about legal enactments which are to be observed in preserving and protecting the historic center of Riga, also including recommendations from UNESCO, which prohibit any construction work there.
Latvia's Way deputy Aija Poca pointed out that construction of the so-called "Iron House" next to the department store "Centrs" in Old Town Riga was then also inadmissible, as well as the "Triangula Bastions" shopping mall, and other buildings whose construction projects were coordinated with the State Cultural Monument Protection Inspection.
The councilmen expressed confusion over the fact that UNESCO has not objected against any other construction jobs in the historic center until now, but problems have arisen with "Sun Stone", which is located on the opposite bank of the Daugava River. For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK deputy Einars Cilinskis expressed doubt that the UNESCO representative had arrived in Riga to check construction of the business complex at the request of the State Cultural Monument Protection Inspection.
Strams informed that the Riga City Council has been reproached for three offences concerning the "Sun Stone" project - exceeding the maximum permitted height, zoning alterations and failure to coordinate the project with the State Cultural Monument Protection Inspection.
However, Strams assured that the reprimands have been rebutted legally - exceeding the permitted height was possible according to the plan for city development, part of the conservation territory is not reduced but zoning alterations introduced according to legislation; and no coordination was requested since there were restriction in the territory set by the inspection for the construction area.
No project has ever been crossed off the UNESCO World Heritage List. In Strams' view, Old Town Riga would not be removed from the list because of "Sun Stone". Mechtild Rossler, the chief of the UNESCO World Heritage Center in the European Region, admitted to reporters that no site has ever been removed from the list because countries take UNESCO recommendations into account.
The councilmen were also informed about Minister of Economy Juris Lujans' letter to Prime Minister Einars Repse, in which he assures that there are no legal grounds for halting the project.
The Riga City Council's City Development Committee decided to invite Dambis to the next committee session on June 11, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government Affairs to specify which legal enactments and norms have been violated and how to solve the problems.
Martins Kalaus LETA
Copyright © LETA
LETA has failed to contact the head of the State Cultural Monument Protection Inspection, Juris Dambis, today.
Vilnis Strams, the head of the Riga City Council's City Development Department, informed the councilmen about legal enactments which are to be observed in preserving and protecting the historic center of Riga, also including recommendations from UNESCO, which prohibit any construction work there.
Latvia's Way deputy Aija Poca pointed out that construction of the so-called "Iron House" next to the department store "Centrs" in Old Town Riga was then also inadmissible, as well as the "Triangula Bastions" shopping mall, and other buildings whose construction projects were coordinated with the State Cultural Monument Protection Inspection.
The councilmen expressed confusion over the fact that UNESCO has not objected against any other construction jobs in the historic center until now, but problems have arisen with "Sun Stone", which is located on the opposite bank of the Daugava River. For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK deputy Einars Cilinskis expressed doubt that the UNESCO representative had arrived in Riga to check construction of the business complex at the request of the State Cultural Monument Protection Inspection.
Strams informed that the Riga City Council has been reproached for three offences concerning the "Sun Stone" project - exceeding the maximum permitted height, zoning alterations and failure to coordinate the project with the State Cultural Monument Protection Inspection.
However, Strams assured that the reprimands have been rebutted legally - exceeding the permitted height was possible according to the plan for city development, part of the conservation territory is not reduced but zoning alterations introduced according to legislation; and no coordination was requested since there were restriction in the territory set by the inspection for the construction area.
No project has ever been crossed off the UNESCO World Heritage List. In Strams' view, Old Town Riga would not be removed from the list because of "Sun Stone". Mechtild Rossler, the chief of the UNESCO World Heritage Center in the European Region, admitted to reporters that no site has ever been removed from the list because countries take UNESCO recommendations into account.
The councilmen were also informed about Minister of Economy Juris Lujans' letter to Prime Minister Einars Repse, in which he assures that there are no legal grounds for halting the project.
The Riga City Council's City Development Committee decided to invite Dambis to the next committee session on June 11, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government Affairs to specify which legal enactments and norms have been violated and how to solve the problems.
Martins Kalaus LETA
Copyright © LETA
