On Friday, March 8, 2024 in the premises of the Akademis Academia Student Center of the University of Dubrovnik, Election Session of the Assembly of the Croatian Association of Historical Towns – CAHT was held.
Jelka Tepšić, the Deputy Mayor of the City of Dubrovnik, addressed the audience first, greeted everyone on behalf of the City and emphasized the importance of the Association, because the exchange of experiences and dialogue always bring new quality.
The assembly was then opened by the current president of the Association, Mrs. Biserka Simatović, who, on behalf of the City of Dubrovnik, supervised the domestic and foreign work of the Association from its beginnings in 2011 until today, making great efforts to ensure that it does not shut down even during the difficult times of the pandemic. She notes that she is very pleased with the large response to this Election Session in Dubrovnik, which is proof that the Croatian Association of Historical Towns will repeat its successes, as the motto of the Association from the first day is: “TOGETHER for preservation and valorization of Croatian cultural heritage”.
The assembly started with a session of the Board of Directors at 09:30. At 10:00 A.M., foreign partners joined the session via Zoom: Mr. Brian Smith, Secretary General of Heritage Europe from Norwich (presentation Heritage Europe – pdf), Director Ms. Meisi Muça from Sites & Cites from Bordeaux (presentation Sites & Cités – pdf), and Ph.D. Dunja Babić, who follows and participates in the actions and activities of the Association from the very beginning.
For the first time, the session had the possibility to include all members of the Association, even those who were prevented from coming to Dubrovnik in person. Among others, the City of Biograd na Moru, City of Ilok, City of Vukovar, City of Varaždin, City of Mali Lošinj, City of Pula, City of Zadar and City of Varaždinske Toplice joined the session.
The agenda of the Assembly was adopted unanimously, after which the reports began. After the dissolution of the Management Board, a short break was made to give members the opportunity to mutually agree on the direction of the Association’s work. A vote was taken on the appointment of a new Board of Directors, which was also unanimously accepted. The Management Board includes representatives of cities from both the coastal and the interior parts of Croatia.
Composition of the Board of Directors, mandate 2024-2026.
President of the CAHT association
- Marko Paliaga, City of Rovinj-Rovigno Mayor
Vice presidents
- Damir Mandić, City of Karlovca Mayor
- Dalibor Ninčević, City of Solina Mayor
- Željko Burić, City of Šibenika Mayor
- Neven Bosilj, City of Varaždina Mayor
Secretary General
- Jakov Vetma, The Municipality of Klisa Mayor
Secretary
- Maria Crnac Rocco, Head of the Office of the City Council and City of Rovinj-Rovigno Mayor
The session was chaired by the previous president of the Association, Mrs. Biserka Simatovi. She also spoke with Mr. Brian Smith, Secretary General of Heritage Europe from Norwich, who addressed the participants via Zoom
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- Okupljenima se uvodno obratila i Jelka Tepšić, zamjenica gradonačelnika Grada Dubrovnika.
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- Generalni tajnik HUPG-a načelnik Općine Klisa Jakov Vetma i novi predsjednik gradonačelnik Grada Rovinja Marko Paliaga
Jelka Tepšić, Deputy Mayor of the City of Dubrovnik, also addressed the audience. | Secretary General of CAHT, Klisa Municipality Mayor Jakov Vetma and the new CAHT President, Rovinj Mayor Marko Paliaga
Panel discussion
After the Assembly, the City of Dubrovnik hosted a lunch in the premises of Akademis, and in the afternoon, the Association participated in a panel discussion with the Minister of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, Nina Obuljen Koržinek, on the topic of creating and implementing management plans for historic city centers inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Given that the Dubrovnik UNESCO World Heritage Management Plan is the first such plan in the Republic of Croatia, members and guests had a unique opportunity to get useful information firsthand, and to ask questions directly to the minister and the expert team that participated in the panel.
Read more about the panel at: https://www.dubrovnik.hr/vijesti/plan-upravljanja-panel-17906