Tokyo: Ambassador Kovač with President of the Sumitomo Foundation Kichizaemon Sumitomo

07. Apr 2022.
Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Japan Aleksandra Kovač met with President of the Sumitomo Foundation Kichizaemon Sumitomo, with whom she discussed the cooperation in the field of restoration and conservation of Serbian cultural heritage.

Ambassador Kovač expressed her gratitude to President Sumitomi for the support in realising the project of restoring the frescoes in the Chapel of King Dragutin in monastery Đurđevi Stupovi, a component of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Stari Ras and Sopoćani", in which Japanese art historian Sachi Shimada participated.

Ambassador Kovač presented the history and key role of Serbian cultural heritage in nurturing cultural identity, with a special reference to monasteries and cultural sites in Kosovo and Metohija.

Speaking about the importance that the Republic of Serbia and its institutions attach to the preservation of cultural heritage, she called upon the Foundation to get involved in new conservation and restoration projects which are of great importance for Serbia. Ambassador Kovač also pointed out to the fact that cooperation in this area largely contributed to strengthening of ties between Serbia and Japan, countries that mark 140 years of friendship this year.

The Sumitomo Foundation, founded in 1991, has supported a large number of projects in Japan and other, mostly Asian countries, aimed at protecting, preserving and restoring cultural and artistic properties of special importance to the future generations.