According to UNESCO, construction work does not threaten the Prague monument

Prague/Brasilia - Construction works in the Czech capital do not endanger Prague's monuments, said Radiožurnál today, according to the committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, Jan Cieslar, informed ČTK that the report from the winter monitoring mission recommends that Prague adopt rules for the construction of high-rise buildings. The report also expressed regret that more thorough surveys were not prepared for the renovation of Charles Bridge.
    The committee has been meeting in the Brazilian metropolis since Sunday. It is deciding, for example, on the inclusion of additional sites on the World Heritage list and will also address the report from the joint mission of UNESCO and ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) in Prague.
    "The report describes the state of care for the Prague Monument Reserve as seen by the mission," Cieslar stated. According to him, the Ministry of Culture provided its opinion on the committee's report, in which it modified "several inaccurate statements." The members of the mission recommended to the capital that it adopt clear rules as soon as possible regarding where high-rise buildings can be constructed.
    "Regarding Charles Bridge, the mission expressed regret that its restoration was not preceded by more thorough surveys than those that were carried out," he added. According to Radiožurnál, the emissaries "consider it necessary to complete the Blanka tunnel and to repair Charles Bridge mainly as a national cultural monument." Prague, according to the radio, is not listed among the 25 critical sites.
    UNESCO inspectors visited Prague in January to specifically assess the construction of the city ring road in the Blanka tunnel and evaluate any potential negative impact on Prague's monuments. They also focused on the planned construction of a shopping center at Wenceslas Square, the reconstruction of Prague's train stations, and the proposed construction of tunnels under the National Museum. In Prague, they met with representatives of official institutions and civic associations as well as opponents of the Charles Bridge renovation. However, they did not comment on the results of their investigation at that time. The report on the inspection is expected to be presented during the meeting in Brazil.
    According to Cieslar, the reports from the monitoring missions will be addressed only at the end of the ten-day meeting.