The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage yesterday ruled to record traditional techniques of making carpets in Moldova and Romania – a common file presented by both states – in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.   

According to a press release by the Culture Ministry, Moldova is represented by a state secretary at the Culture Ministry Andrei Chistol at a meeting of the aforementioned Intergovernmental Committee, held in Addis-Ababa on 28 November – 2 December, reports Moldpres.   

In his speech, Andrei Chistol thanked the committee for the decision taken. He said that “the registration of the traditional techniques of making carpets in Moldova and Romania in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage of the humanity will allow a better knowledge of the Romanian carpets nationally and worldwide, safeguarding the traditional techniques and conveying them to the next generations.”  

Based on an analysis made by the assessment committee on the elements proposed to be recorded in the Representative List, the state secretary brought additional arguments on the Culture Ministry’s actions to promote carpets, involvement of local communities, academic environment and civil society in safeguarding the traditional techniques of making carpets.

Besides the traditional techniques of making carpets in Moldova and Romania, so far, these countries have introduced Singing of Carols by Men’s Bands in Romania and Moldova in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2013).