Moldovan, EU officials attend completion of Manuc Bey mansion's reconstruction project

Chisinau, 30 December /MOLDPRES/-The “Development of cross-border tourism by promoting Manuc Bey Mansion, mortuary complex Elena Ioan Cuza and Blesciunov museum” project was completed today.
Attending the event was the head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola, acting Culture Minister Monica Babuc, acting Regional Development and Constructions Minister Vasile Bitca, as well as representatives of Hincesti district council.
During the ceremony, Tapiola said the enforcement of this project played a major role in the consolidation of the participant states’ economy and it would boost the promotion and development of Moldovan tourism.
For her part, Monica Babuc said the restoration of its cultural patrimony and turning its touristic potential to good account would help Moldova attract more tourists and increase its popularity across the globe.
The financial value of the project accounts for 2.5 million euros, of which 90 per cent were offered by the EU as a non-refundable grant through the Joint Operational Programme Romania–Ukraine –Moldova, financed by the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument.
The project was meant to improve the social and economic situation in the cross-border region by enhancing the tourism’s contribution to the local economy and turning sustainable development opportunities in Hincesti, Vaslui and Odessa regions to good account.
The Manuc Bey mansion from Hincesti district was built in the early 19th century by Armenian diplomat and merchant Manuc Bei Mirzaian. The mansion was severely damaged by an earthquake, fire and bombings during World War II in 1940-1945.
Manuc Bey Family’s architectural complex has been abandoned for more than a half-century. Moldovan regional authorities decided to start collecting financial resources in 2007, in order to restore the mansion. Reconstruction works started in 2014. The mansion will be put into service in the spring of 2016.
(Reporter P. Beregoi, Editor M. Jantovan)