Bitola, 1 July 2022 (MIA) – The House of Army, a cultural monument located in Bitola and built in 1912, has been declared cultural heritage of particular importance, a subcategory of great importance, said Culture Minister Bisera Kostadinovska Stojchevska. At a press conference in Bitola on Friday, Minister Kostadinovska Stojchevska said that the decision declaring the House of Army in Bitola cultural heritage of particular importance, subcategory of great importance, was made by the government based on a recommendation by the Directorate for Protection of Cultural Heritage and the opinion of the National Council for Cultural Heritage. “With this decision the highest protection is secured which means permanent preservation of the House of Army in its original state, the creation of favourable conditions for the continued existence of the House of Army and maintaining the integrity of all the data it carries with it as evidence, spreading knowledge about the values and the significance of the House of Army and its role in the cultural identification, the development of the House of Army according to its purpose and significance, in order to satisfy the cultural, scientific, educational, aesthetic, economic, tourist and other needs of the citizens and the society, while preventing activities, events and influences which cause or can cause it to be damaged or degraded,” said Kostadinovska Stojchevska. The Minister said that the ignorant attitude towards the importance and value of the building ended last year, during incumbent Government’s term, when the revalorization of the material good from the competent institution, the National Institute for Preservation of Monuments of Culture and Museum Bitola, was adopted, followed by the revision of the revalorization act which was done by a Commission formed by the Directorate for Protection of Cultural Heritage. “The highest degree of protection will ensure the permanent preservation of this rare and significant architectural building which is witness to the practice of public and monumental architecture present in the country when it was built. And with the events taking place in this magical part of Shirok Sokak, as a generation we continue to nurture the memories of Bitola’s golden age as well, we continue to nurture the culturally-historical significance of the building, but also create new artistic values which will leave a trace on the current cultural and social life in Bitola and in the entire country,” said Kostadinovska Stojchevska. At the press conference, Mayor Toni Konjanovski said that the House of Army is an important place for the citizens of Bitola and as the local government they will continue to nurture the traditions tied to the magnificent building. “As the local government we aim for the House of Army to be a representative place that glorifies culture. This is a place where BitFest takes place, i.e., the Bitola cultural summer, and soon it will also be a Europe House. We will continue to upgrade this place until it receives all the glory it deserves,” said Konjanovski. ad/ba/