MEXICO CITY.- Zacatecas is the seat of a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Category II Regional Office, to promote training, research and conservation of artistic, historical, natural and archaeological heritage of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

The Zacatecas State governor Amalia Garcia Medina initiative to install this World Heritage Regional Institute in the state was supported by institutions such as National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and National Institute of Fine Arts INBA), as well as national and international experts gathered in Zacatecas.

The Zacatecas governor inaugurated the annual meeting of World Heritage experts attended by Francesco Bandarin, director of UNESCO World Heritage Center, Consuelo Saizar, president of the National Council for Culture and the Arts (CONACULTA), Alfonso de Maria y Campos, INAH general director, Teresa Vicencio Alvarez, INBA general director, Olga Orive, International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) president, as well as experts and researchers.

Amalia Garcia remarked that China, Brazil and Bahrein share with Mexico the distinction of having a UNESCO Category II Regional Office, adding that to present there is only one category I office in Paris, France.

Consuelo Saizar declared that “This center will be inspiration and acknowledgement to Zacatecas and Mexico for conserving and promoting historic and cultural heritage”.

Alfonso de Maria y Campos recalled that the global region conformed by Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean gathers 14 per cent of sites inscribed in the World Heritage List.

He added that “the Regional Institute installed in Zacatecas will work with the same conviction that has inspired INAH scientific labor for 70 years, to achieve that analysis, interpretation, rehabilitation and conservation of cultural and natural heritage constitute theoretical and practical activities based on social, economic and cultural politics focused on accomplishing that local communities collaborate with plurality of perspectives, sensibilities and knowledge”.

Francesco Bandarin pointed out that Zacatecas is an example for many regions in the world on how the real sense of cultural goods preservation can be implemented; more than an instrument of conservation, it is a peace and dialogue tool.

The decision of installing the Category II Center in Zacatecas must be confirmed on October 2009, at UNESCO World Congress, in Paris, France.