RIGA, March 14 (LETA) - Daugavgriva Fortress in Riga will be maintained, researched, developed and preserved as state property, the Culture Ministry's Public Relations Department head Lita Kokale informed LETA.

Recognizing the importance and future development potential of Daugavgriva Fortress, an architectural monument of national importance, the Culture Ministry, the Economics Ministry, the State Inspection for Heritage Protection, public asset manager Possessor, Riga City Council, Freeport of Riga Authority, ICOMOS Latvia, Latvian Council of Museums, and association Bolderaja Group have agreed to cooperate in the conservation and development of the fortress. The fortress will remain state property managed by the Economics Ministry.

The Culture Ministry's State Secretary Dace Vilsone emphasizes that Daugavgriva Fortress is a monument of national and international importance because of its architectural, historical, military and maritime heritage. The fortress has excellent potential for future development, which is already rooted in the local community's care for the site.

The Environment Ministry's State Secretary Edmunds Valantis says that Daugavgriva Fortress is a unique historical structure with high tourism potential not only in Riga, but in the entire Baltic region. In Latvia, it is only comparable to Daugavpils Fortress.

The Culture Ministry, in cooperation with other public and non-governmental partners, is currently working on a conceptual report on future operation of Daugavgriva Fortress, the necessary conservation and restoration works, their cost estimates and sources of funding. The report will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers by the end of March.

The report will describe the short-, medium- and long-term conservation, research and development vision for Daugavgriva Fortress.

Daugavgriva Fortress is a unique 17th century fortress and an architectural monument of national importance. There are few such completely preserved fortresses of this period in Europe, since from the beginning of the 18th century until the 19th century earthworks and bastions of such fortifications were mostly dismantled around towns.

The fortress has an important place in Latvian history. During the World War I, the first unit of Latvian troops, the 1st Daugavgriva Latvian Riflemen Regiment, was formed there. During the war of independence, it was conquered by the 9th Rezekne Infantry Regiment. The Latvian Bible translator Ernst Gluck was living there in the 1680s.