Professional heritage conservationists do not like Mikeš's installation at the MK

Prague - The Association of Professional Heritage Workers is concerned about the appointment of František Mikeš as Deputy Minister of Culture. Heritage professionals expressed this sentiment at their general assembly, which took place in Pardubice at the end of last week. "In his previous roles, he actively opposed the protection of cultural heritage, which he is now supposed to ensure from his position across the entire territory of the Czech Republic," states the resolution available on the website of the National Heritage Institute.
    The general assembly also tasked its executive committee to send a letter to the Minister of Culture Václav Jehlička (KDU-ČSL) in this regard.
    Former mayor of Český Krumlov František Mikeš (ODS) became a deputy last Friday; however, he had already been working at the ministry for several weeks prior. He is responsible for the cultural heritage section.
    As early as February, the South Bohemian association Heritage Community of Český Krumlov, which has long-standing experience with Mikeš's activities in the region, sent a letter to the Minister of Culture. The association, which has a member who is currently also a member of the Scientific Council for State Heritage Care, a consultative body of the ministry, believes that Mikeš jeopardizes the credibility of the office. However, the ministry does not consider the complaints of the association to be of significant importance - according to the office, it is more of a local matter where personal disputes play a major role.
    The association provides examples of its negative experiences with Mikeš as the head of the District Office in Český Krumlov (1992 to 2002) and later as the mayor of the town, such as reports of inspections conducted by the heritage inspection of the ministry in 2001.
    According to them, at that time, the district office violated the heritage law, did not adequately supervise construction during the restoration of monuments, thereby contributing to their damage or devaluation.
    According to the director of the cultural heritage section of the Ministry of Culture, Zdeněk Novák, the heritage inspection, like other inspections, does not provide a balance sheet; it does not report on what works well, but publicizes the identified shortcomings. "Exemplary" cases from the past 82 district offices during heritage inspections numbered around ten, according to him.
    Nevertheless, the association states that Mikeš's tenure resulted in "a gradual deep decline in the level of heritage protection throughout the district."
    During the time when Mikeš was at the ministry, he was involved in court proceedings. The Regional Court in České Budějovice acquitted him along with his predecessor as the mayor of Český Krumlov, Antonín Prince, last week of charges related to the erroneous drawing of funds for the city's repairs after the floods in 2002. The regional court's decision is not final, and the prosecutor has not ruled out an appeal. The defendants waived their right to appeal.