They discussed the situation of cultural heritage in Bulgaria and the measures to enhance its protection, as well as the role of the Regional Center for Intangible Heritage in Southeast Europe and other areas of mutual interest.

Mr Banov thanked the Director-General for her leadership in safeguarding cultural heritage and her visionary work at UNESCO. He commended the role of UNESCO in addressing contemporary issues regarding the protection of cultural heritage across the world, especially in conflict zones.

Mr Banov met also with Dr Mechtild Roessler, Director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Center. He underscored his strong commitment to work closely with the Center to draft and implement an innovative approach for managing World Heritage sites in Bulgaria.