OREANDA-NEWS. November 21, 2008. The questions of cultural heritage retention were debated at the meeting held at OAO “Koks” by the representatives of the Netherlands Kingdom government , Irina Fedorova, Deputy City Executive (Kemerovo) and the management of the enterprise on the 14th of November Kehs Sommer, Counselor of the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Marike Keupers, Senior Expert of the State Architecture and Landscape Service, Timen Kauwenahr and Pavel Kuzmin, Counselor and Senior Expert in Science, Education and Culture of the Netherlands Embassy in Russian Federation (correspondingly) were on a delegation. The History of Kemerovo was closely connected with the history of the Netherlands in the beginning of the last century.

The oldest architectural structures in the city are the buildings inherited from the unique international industrial organization of the autonomous industrial settlement (AIS “Kuzbass”, which was in operation in 1922-27 in this area and was headed by a Dutch Engineer Sebald Ruthgers). In particular, the construction of Kemerovo-based coke-chemical plant was carried out under Ruthger’s leadership. The territory of the modern enterprise comprises buildings which were officially recognized as monuments of architecture of regional importance. The foreign guests saw them over during the excursion of the enterprise. At the meeting with the delegation- Sergey Diakov, the Managing Director of OAO “Koks, reported on the future plans and prospects of the production development. Irina Fedorova noted that the plant laid the foundation to the city development and the workers of the plant built blocks of flats, kindergardens and hospitals. Kehs Sommers mentioned that OAO “Koks” is the enterprise of the European level in terms of production and ecological characteristics and thanked the receiving party for their hospitality. He also declared that the next point of destination of the delegation will be the Ministry of Culture and the State Duma of RF, the questions of potential participation of the Dutch specialists in restoration of Russian monuments of architecture will be on agenda there. The delegation will visit Saint Petersburg and Yaroslavl as well.