Declaration

KAZAN DECLARATION

  17th World Conference of Historical Cities:
“Historical and cultural heritage as the basis of national and regional identity”

23-26 June 2021, Kazan, Russian Federation

We, the Mayors, political leaders and experts in the field of preserving the heritage of cities all over the world, have gathered at the 17th World Conference of Historical Cities in June 2021 in the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan - the city of Kazan - and endorse the following:

1. Historical and cultural heritage is a basis for the successful development of civilization, the intellectual potential of countries and a key instrument for strengthening dialogue between multi-ethnic and multi-religious communities. The preservation, protection, promotion and effective use of historical heritage and the protection of global environment as their prerequisites remain a priority in the era of globalization. Today, we are faced with the common challenge of accelerating the development of the global information society, the economy, the means of transportation, and the integration of nations into the world system. The worldwide process of globalization has made it possible to expand cultural ties among peoples, whereas it has threatened to undermine cultural identity. Our aim is to ensure the preservation of historical heritage sites, the identity of peoples, the accessibility of cultural heritage sites to everyone, and the dissemination of cultural (material and spiritual) values to the younger generation.
    
2. Every individual is linked to the past, present and future, and rooted in the history, traditions of the family and its people. The participation of every citizen in the flourishing of the cultural environment and respect for traditions and culture shape the life orientations of the individual. We commit ourselves to preserving and restoring historical and cultural monuments that are cherished memory of the people.
    
3. It is very important for us to carry out renovation works and to preserve the historical appearance of the cities and tourist sites. It is the historical and cultural potential of settlements and small towns that can serve as a special resource for economic and social development, help to create cultural and tourist programs, increase employment, support education, and enhance patriotism.
    
4. The diversity of languages is one of the main aspects of cultural diversity, since language is a reflection of the consciousness of people, a means of transmitting cultural experiences and self-expression. The challenge of preserving cultural and linguistic diversity is being discussed worldwide. Our mission is to prevent the decline of the languages of small ethnic groups and the extinction of the languages in general.
    
5. The other most important task for us is the preservation of cultural identity, which can be achieved by preserving the ethnic characteristics of different peoples and creating a single cultural space. Cultural identity can be expressed through the preservation of ethnic languages, and through the identification of an individual with an appropriate set of traditions, values, customs and many others. Over the course of a lifetime, a person manages to learn about only a small part of the cultural heritage. Therefore, we are committed not only to introducing the established cultural values to the current generation, but also to passing on the national heritage to the next generations and to mutually enriching different cultures with this heritage.
    
6. Given the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, we should best ensure that the population has access to culture through the use of online technologies and digital platforms.
    
7. We consider it our duty to preserve the continuity and connection of generations, historical memory as a support of consciousness, the formation of humanistic attitudes and universal values among students based on cultural heritage. It is easier for a person who has these ideas to get closer to other people, to sympathize with them, and to take part in a dialogue with representatives of different cultures.
    

Therefore, we are committed to developing the culture, preserving the languages, histories and traditions of the peoples of the world, promoting the peaceful coexistence of different ethnic groups within the cities and passing on cultural values to future generations as a national treasure, and achieving the SDGs by these efforts.

Kazan, June 25, 2021