The Monument to Freedom on Shipka Peak is the hardest site to restore in Bulgaria, and the public tender for its repair will be fully open, culture minister Evtim Miloshev said.
Miloshev spoke at a press conference in the ministry's Sredets gallery, alongside the repair and restoration experts. They outlined the work, its stages and deadlines, and the steps to keep the monument's original look.
The monument is 100 years old and stands on St Nicholas Peak, now called Shipka Peak, 1,330 metres above sea level. Miloshev said its age and height create unusual working conditions.
The contractor has listed some of the information as a trade secret. "In this case, some things are marked as a trade secret. This concerns the timetable, the choice of material and the technical resources," the minister said.
Miloshev said the Public Procurement Act lets a contractor choose certain activities and keep their details secret. He said this is mostly a standard procedure and does not mean the firm wants to hide anything. After talks with the contractor, the ministry agreed that "absolutely the whole contract will be open," he added.
The Ministry of Culture will also get regular written reports. The museum director will report on the work done every 10 days, and oversight of the work will be reported to the ministry in writing every 30 days.
The team includes engineer Yanko Petkov, Prof Dimitar Nazarski, Dr Chavdar Angelov, Lachezar Pavlov, Maya Milanova, Prof Plamen Mitev, Prof Vera Boneva and Prof Petko Petkov.