The events marking the 2007 European Heritage Days took place in Belgrade on Friday 21 September. Because of threatening weather, the ceremony was moved from Kalemegdan - Belgrade Fortress, to the Terazije Theatre. The ceremony was full of images and a series of chamber and choral music performances proceeded speeches by Serbian, Council of Europe, European Commission and Europa Nostra dignitaries. Speeches were given by Dr Radmila Hrustanović, Deputy Mayor of Belgrade, Mr Vojislav Brajović, Minister of Culture of Serbia, Ambassador Eleonora Petrova-Mitevska, Permanent Representative of “The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Chair of the Group of Rapporters on Education, Culture, Sport, Youth and Environment (GR-C) of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Mr Robert Palmer, Director of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage of the Council of Europe, Mr Ján Figel’, Member of the European Commission responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, and Dr Andrea H. Schuler, Executive President of Europa Nostra. They all stressed the importance and growing success of the European Heritage Days, celebrated in 49 countries across Europe during the month of September.

Preceding the ceremony was an International Round Table on "Common heritage in Europe on the move - adding values to the development potential of European regions" organised in the morning of Friday 21 September at the House of the National Assembly. The Round Table focused on the Regional Programme for Cultural and Natural Heritage in South East Europe (RPSEE). The aim of this Round Table was to showcase the joint Council of Europe / European Commission experience on heritage rehabilitation projects in South-East Europe as a contribution to the improvement of the quality of life of citizens, as enshrined in the Faro Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society.

At the end of the Round Table, Serbia signed 3 of the Council of Europe's Conventions related to cultural heritage (Faro Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society, European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (revised), and the European Landscape Convention).

Outside the House of the National Assembly of Serbia, venue of the Round Table, was a European Flag Day celebration to mark Serbia's chairmanship of the Council of Europe, with the Serbian National anthem sung by Eurovision 2007 winner Marija Šarifović, and children from the various international schools singing songs in their native languages. The ceremony finished with a huge European flag being waved to the European anthem of Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’.

Visits to museums, historical buildings and monuments, and archaeological sites in and around Belgrade took place during the European Heritage Days events, giving participants a good view of the importance Serbia attaches to preserving its cultural heritage, as an integral part of Europe's cultural heritage.

 

> Speech by Andrea H. Schuler, Europa Nostra Executive President

 

> Programme of events marking the 2007 European Heritage Days