EUPHRASIUS BASILICA ENTERED ON WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE LIST

( Editorial: --> 8996 ) POREC, Sept 8 (Hina) - The envoy of the UNESCO secretary-general, Bernd van Drost, on Tuesday handed Porec Mayor Radoljub Kosic and Pula-Porec Bishop Milovan Povelj a charter certifying that the local Euphrasius Basilica had been entered onto UNESCO's list of world cultural heritage. The charter was presented at a special session of the northern Adriatic town's municipal council. A large audience was addressed by Mayor Kosic, whose speech was followed by a reading of congratulatory telegrams from Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Zagreb Archbishop Josip Bozanic. The gathering was also addressed by the President's representative at UNESCO, Vesna Girardi-Jurkic, who congratulated Porec, stressing that the listing came as a reward for the efforts of generations who had been striving to preserve the basilica complex until the present day. She described the cathedral as a place that combined Christian religion, art and culture, adding that UNESCO's world cultural heritage list comprised a large family of 532 monuments. UNESCO envoy van Drost referred to the basilica as a good example of a well-preserved early Christian monument. He also mentioned other Croatian monuments on UNESCO's list, saying he hoped that it would include other Croatian monuments. Van Drost spoke about the devastation of Dubrovnik and the Plitvice Lakes National Park during the attack on Croatia and about UNESCO's efforts for the protection of those gems of cultural and natural heritage. Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic emphasised the Basilica was a key element in the cultural histories of the Adriatic region and Europe as a whole, and expressed his satisfaction with its entering on UNESCO's list. During his visit to the local art restoration office, Biskupic discussed the on-going restoration of the church. On Wednesday and Thursday Porec will host a conference on the Basilica. (Hina) mro /mbr 081913 MET sep 98