Notar.

The Centre for preservation and presentation of Kotor's documentary heritage - "Notar", having its seat in Kotor, is a non-governmental organization, founded in December of 1999. With the activities envisaged by the programme this organization has got the intention of acting professionally on professional, scientific and general public in Montenegro and abroad, with the scope of adequate appraisal of written sources and early printed material deposited within cultural institutions of the state, church and private archives and libraries. The Centre will act in the direction of stimulating the interest of international professional and scientific quarters for Kotor's documentary heritage, which has been on the UNESCO List of world cultural heritage since 1979.

The apparent insufficient organizational and material readiness of state institutions in Montenegro for preservation, appraisal and presentation of Kotor's documentary heritage, having in mind to its value and importance, brought about the idea of founding a professional association, which, by means of modern methodology and professionally justified projects, will act creatively and encouragingly in overcoming of recorded shortcomings.

Starting from the fact that Kotor is a Mediterranean town and that it has been cultivating civil consciousness founded on multiethnic, multiconfessional and multicultural way of life, the Centre will fight for the accessibility of this documentary heritage, as a unique and irreplaceable source for history and culture of the national community, as well as a means of developing national consciousness and identity.

Bearing in mind that the Centre's activity is closely connected to the material which dates back to the Middle ages and which had been written in foreign scripts and languages, the membership will be gathered according to professional qualifications for work on such sources and scientific interest. The members will use their professional skills and experience through realization of certain projects, and in accordance with the activities determined by the Programme.

SNEŽANA PEJOVIĆ
President