Irina Bokova visits UNESCO site in Slovakia

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, on her visit to Slovakia, held roundtable talks on Saturday in the medieval town of Levoča with the mayors of towns and villages listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. During the talks, Bokova stressed that UNESCO's main job is to harmonize modern and historical heritage. "Sometimes it is critical. We would like to modernize, but we often forget how easy it is to destroy and how difficult it is to build something," said Bokova. They also talked about the need to ensure a sufficient volume of money for the reconstruction of historical monuments. The talks were followed by a short sightseeing tour around the town and a visit to Saint James Basilica, connected with a short organ concert. "It was an unforgettable experience for me to see Master Paul's Gothic altar," said Bokova.