On Saturday (June 13, 2009), the Minister of Culture of Serbia, Nebojša Bradić, and the Head of the delegation of European Commission to Serbia, Žozep Ljoveras, marked the beginning of realization of the project for transformation of mining town Senjski Rudnik into a city-museum and the center of industrial heritage.
It is the first project that deals with cultural development in Serbia, and it has received 1.5m EUR worth of support from the funds of European Union within the scope of the Regional Programme for SEE Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Although the project is expected to be officially approved by the European Commission in autumn, Bradić pointed out that the process of transformation of Senjski Rudnik into eco-museum had started with the revealing of the board of the the Regional Programme for SEE Cultural and Natural Heritage on the building of museum. Realization of the project will depend on the people who will run it - people from the Ministry of Culture, experts and locals. Bradić pointed out that refurbishment of Senjski Rudnik and its transformation into the cultural and industrial heritage center was very important project for the Government of Serbia, as well as for the inhabitants of that region.
Ljoveras estimated the project for revitalization of Senjski Rudnik as one of the best among 26 projects from Southeast Europe that had competed for the funds of the European Commission. He said that was was sure that the European Commission would do everything it can to refurbish that exceptionally beautiful region, with significant historical and cultural monuments, and to return it to the tourist map of Serbia. He was surprised with the fact that he had not found the location of Senjski Rudnik in Serbian tourist guides.
- European integrations anticipate more than just design of laws and standards. They also concern improvement and preservation of cultural heritage and the identity of local communities - Ljoveras pointed out.
The CEO of public company for underground coal exploitation in Senjski Rudnik, Zlatko Dragosavljević, reminded that that mine had been supplying Serbia with brown coal for 156 years.
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