World Heritage 23 COMDistribution limited WHC-99/CONF.209/22

Paris, 2 March 2000Original: English/French

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC ANDCULTURAL ORGANIZATION

CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF THEWORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE

WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE

Twenty-third sessionMarrakesh, Morocco

29 November – 4 December 1999

REPORT

Table of Contents

Page

I. Opening Session 1

II. Adoption of the Agenda and the Timetable 2

III. Report By The Secretariat On TheActivities Undertaken Since The Twenty-Second Session Of The World HeritageCommittee

2

IV. Reports of the Rapporteurs on the Sessionsof the World Heritage Bureau

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V. Report on the Decision of the GeneralAssembly Of States Parties With Regard To“Ways And Means To Ensure A Repre-Sentative World Heritage List”

4

VI. Progress Report On The Implementation OfThe Regional Actions Described In TheGlobal Strategy Action Plan Adopted ByThe Committee At Its Twenty-SecondSession

5

VII. Follow-Up To The Work Of TheConsultative Body Of The World HeritageCommittee

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VIII. Information On Tentative Lists AndExamination Of Nominations Of CulturalAnd Natural Properties To The List OfWorld Heritage In Danger And WorldHeritage List

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IX. Periodic Reporting: Regional Strategies ForPeriodic Reporting

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X. State Of Conservation Of PropertiesInscribed On The List Of World Heritage InDanger And On The World Heritage List

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XI. Activities Concerning World HeritageDocumentation, Information AndEducation

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XII. Evaluation Of International Assistance:Examination Of The Recommendations OfThe Twenty-Third Session Of The BureauOf The World Heritage Committee Con-Cerning Prioritization In GrantingInternational Assistance

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XIII. Revision Of The Operational GuidelinesFor The Implementation Of The WorldHeritage Convention

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XIV. Examination Of The World Heritage FundAnd Approval Of The Budget For 2000And Presentation Of A Pro-Visional BudgetFor 2001

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XV. Requests For International Assistance 45

XVI. Date, Place And Provisional Agenda OfThe Twenty-Fourth Session Of TheBureau Of The World HeritageCommittee

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XVII. Date And Place Of The Twenty-FourthSession Of The World HeritageCommittee

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XVIII. Other Business 52

XIX. Closure Of The Session 52

Annexes Page

I. Royal Letter of His Majesty KingMohammed VI of Morocco

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II. List of Participants 59

III. Speech of the Director-General of UNESCO,Mr. Koichiro Matsuura

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IV. Declaration of the Youth from the ArabRegion on World Heritage

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V. Map of Lorentz National Park (Indonesia) 79

VI. Statement by H.E. the Federal Minister ofCulture and Tourism, Nigeria on SukurCultural Landscape, Nigeria

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VII. Statement by H.E. the Ambassador of theRepublic of South Africa to France onRobben Island, Greater St. Lucia WetlandNational Park and the Fossil Hominid Sites ofSterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, andEnvirons, South Africa

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VIII. Report of the twenty-third extraordinarysession of the Bureau (WHC-99/CONF.209/6) relating to the state ofconservation of properties inscribed on theWorld Heritage List

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IX. Statement of the United States of America onMining Activities

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X. Provisional Agenda of the twenty-fourthsession of the World Heritage Bureau

111

XI. Statement by the Hungarian Delegationconcerning the twenty-fourth session of theWorld Heritage Committee

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XII. Statement by the Australian Delegationconcerning the twenty-fourth session of theWorld Heritage Committee

115

1

I. OPENING SESSION

I.1 The twenty-third session of the World HeritageCommittee was held in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 29 Novemberto 4 December 1999. It was attended by all twenty-one membersof the World Heritage Committee: Australia, Belgium, Benin,Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Ecuador, Finland,Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Portugal,Republic of Korea, Republic of South Africa, Thailand, andZimbabwe.

I.2 The following States Parties to the Convention who arenot members of the Committee were represented as observers:Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Cyprus, Costa Rica, CzechRepublic, France, Germany, Holy See, Indonesia, India, Israel,Japan, Lithuania, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria,Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russian Federation,Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia,Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America,Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

I.3 Representatives of the advisory bodies to theCommittee, the International Centre for the Study of thePreservation and Restoration of the Cultural Property(ICCROM), the International Council on Monuments and Sites(ICOMOS) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) attendedthe meeting in an advisory capacity. The meeting was alsoattended by representatives and observers of the followinginternational governmental organizations (IGOs), internationalnon-governmental organizations (INGOs) and non-governmentalorganizations (NGOs): Arch Foundation, Association for theSafeguarding of the Kasbah of Algiers, Heritage Friends ofMorocco (APM), High-Tech Visual Promotion Centre,International Council on Metals and the Environment (ICME),International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA),International Federation of Shingon Buddhism, InternationalFoundation of Historical Heritage (Canada), International Fundfor Animal Welfare (IFAW), Islamic Organization forEducation, Science and Culture, (ISESCO), Nature ResourcesDefense Council (NRDC), Organization of the Arab League forEducation, Science and Culture (ALECSO), Organization ofWorld Heritage Cities (OWHC), Pro Esteros Mexico,UNEP/PAM Project, UN Foundation,. (The full List ofParticipants is attached as Annex II to this report).

I.4 The twenty–third session of the World HeritageCommittee was opened by Mr Abdelaziz Touri, Chairperson ofthe World Heritage Committee, who presented Mr MohammedAchaari, Minister for Cultural Affairs of Morocco, to read thewelcome message of His Majesty King Mohammed VI ofMorocco (The Royal Letter is attached as Annex I to this report).

I.5 In His Message, the King welcomed the participantsand expressed the pleasure of the Kingdom of Morocco inhosting the Committee meeting in the prestigious historicalcapital of Marrakesh. He emphasized the progress made in thepreservation of cultural and natural heritage which he attributedto the overreaching agreement by countries of the same thinking,that of preserving local and national heritage, a heritage whichbelongs to humankind. He noted that the current Committeesession was the last during this century, and its future activitieswould be affected by on-going changes taking place in the areasof communication and information. On the other hand, thesechanging conditions will provide opportunities to improve futureactions to understand and to give greater depth to the notion ofworld cultural and historical heritage and the multiple aspects ofhuman civilization.

I.6 His Majesty praised UNESCO for its leadership in theprotection of the cultural and natural heritage. Referring to theKingdom of Morocco, the King’s message said that sinceindependence, the country has been deeply aware of the need for

the preservation of its legacy. Through an initiative taken by thelate King, His Majesty King Hassan II, Morocco has beenworking particularly with Moroccan and other experts, in therestoration of the Royal Palace of Fez. The Royal Letterconcluded by expressing interest as regards the natural heritageand issues of the oral tradition, where man is inseparable from hisenvironment, and that we have the responsibility to protect theverbally transmitted heritage that was greatly threatened.Reminding the participants of the responsibilities of humankind,His Majesty thanked UNESCO for deciding to propose thenomination of Jamaa Lafna Square in Marrakesh as oral heritageof humankind, an honour for Morocco. He noted with pleasurethe presence of Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General ofUNESCO, and referred to his great competence and deepunderstanding of issues of global civilization. Aftercongratulating Mr Matsuura on his election and having expressedconfidence in his leadership of the Organization, the King wishedthe Committee success in its work and welcomed once again theparticipants to the City of Marrakesh.

I.7 At the invitation of the Chairperson of the WorldHeritage Committee, and in his first address to the WorldHeritage Committee in his capacity as the Director- General ofUNESCO, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, welcomed the participants tothe twenty-third session of the World Heritage Committee. Hetransmitted his sincere gratitude to the Kingdom and the peopleof Morocco for their generosity and hospitality. Mr. Matsuuramentioned that, it had been several years since a meeting of theWorld Heritage Committee was held in an Arab country, and inthis regard, he expressed his satisfaction that the meeting wasbeing held in Morocco and in the beautiful City of Marrakesh.

I.8 Mr. Matsuura took the occasion to pay tribute to thelate King Hassan II, whom he said brought to Morocco a policyof foresight and vision concerning the protection of cultural andnatural heritage. He noted that it was indeed in 1980 when, withthe assistance of UNESCO, the late King led the initiative tolaunch the international campaign for the protection of theMedina of Fez, which was followed by the inscription of Fez inthe World Heritage List. Mr. Matsuura recalled that it was thelate King Hassan II who facilitated the preservation of theassemblage of the world’s most important architecture, as well asthe living traditional art.

I.9 Welcoming again the participants, Mr. Matsuuraexpressed his high esteem for the work of the World HeritageCommittee of the 1972 Convention on the protection of the worldcultural and natural heritage. He reminded the participants thatthe work of the Committee is among others, the tangibleexpression of international solidarity and co-operation embodiedin the World Heritage Convention.

I.10 The Director-General informed the participants thatthere are currently 158 States Parties who have adhered to theConvention, which represents the majority of the 188 UNESCOMember States. He welcomed the States Parties attending theCommittee session for the first time and congratulated the StatesParties elected recently by the twelfth session of the GeneralAssembly. Mr Matsuura, addressing the newly-electedChairperson of the World Heritage Committee, Mr AbdelazizTouri, Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage inMorocco, commented that his election was fully justified, being arespected expert involved in day-to-day conservation of thecultural heritage, a person of experience at the heart of theCommittee where he has worked for several years.

I.11 Turning to the values of World Heritage sites, MrMatsuura emphasized that the Committee’s deliberations anddecisions on the established criteria for World Heritage, will beimportant not only for the future protection of the exceptionalworld cultural and natural heritage, but also for importantnational and local sites. He stressed the importance of developing

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a collective ethic for heritage conservation which he viewed as amajor challenge in the face of economic globalisation.

I.12 As the Director–General of UNESCO, Mr. Matsuurasaid that he will endeavour to strengthen the World HeritageCentre, to enable it to respond to the increasing demands ofnational and local authorities, of site managers, researchinstitutes, development agencies, the media and the public.

I.13 In emphasizing the importance and the large quantity ofwork of the Committee, Mr. Matsuura observed the need tofacilitate its work. He also mentioned the need for rigour,particularly in matters dealing with the inscription of sites in theWorld Heritage List, the evaluation of international assistancerequests and in addressing the root causes of various threats toWorld Heritage. The Director-General suggested the linkage ofpreparatory assistance and training grants to the Global Strategyand priority approval for requests from Least DevelopedCountries and Low Income Countries, particularly for technicalco-operation.

I.14 In conclusion, he emphasized the importance of publicawareness-building and education for World Heritageconservation. Without education the survival of the WorldHeritage is at risk. He informed the Committee that as theDirector-General of UNESCO, and working with the GeneralConference and the Executive Board, he would seek to furtherstrengthen the World Heritage Centre. (The Director-General’sspeech is attached as Annex III to this report).

I.15 Mr Touri, the Chairperson, thanked the Director-General of UNESCO for his kind words. He then thanked theDirector–General for having presented on behalf of UNESCO thefollowing two medals: Victor Hugo Medal to His Excellency, theMinister for Cultural Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Achaari; and theAristotle Medal to Mr. Abdelaziz Touri, the Director of CulturalHeritage, and the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee.

I.16 The Chairperson informed the Committee that the FirstArab States World Heritage Youth Forum had taken place at theAl Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco, from 22-28November. The Forum, organized within the framework ofUNESCO’s Special Project “Young People’s Participation inWorld Heritage Preservation and Promotion” with the support ofNORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation)and the Rhône-Poulenc Foundation (France), was attended byyoung people and secondary school teachers from twelvecountries in the Arab region.

I.17 In previous years, international Youth Fora had beenheld in Norway (1995) and Japan (1998), and regional YouthFora in Croatia (1996), Zimbabwe (1996), China (1997) andSenegal (1999). The Youth Forum for the Arab region coincidedwith the recent publication, in Arabic, of the EducationalResource Kit for Teacher’s entitled “World Heritage in younghands” translated with the assistance of the UNESCO Office inAmman, Jordan. The Youth Forum was organized incollaboration with the UNESCO Office in Rabat, Morocco andthe Al Akhawayn University.

I.18 At the invitation of the Chairperson, the President ofthe Al Akhawayn University, Dr Rachid Benmokhtar, gave abrief summary of the Youth Forum. He referred to his pleasure inhaving welcomed young people from the Arab region to hisUniversity as the Youth Forum reflected the goals and researchof the University in relation to cultural heritage and itsconservation. The University aims to instil in its students a spiritof open-mindedness, tolerance and peace. The location of Ifranehad provided an appropriate setting for the Forum enriched byBerber culture and extraordinary biodiversity. The young peopleat the Youth Forum actively participated in plenary sessions,field visits to the World Heritage sites of Fez and Volubilis,

workshops on traditional calligraphy, handicrafts andcommunication technology and prepared a Forum newspaper. DrRachid Benmokhtar thanked UNESCO for having taken theinitiative to organise the Forum.

I.19 Two student representatives from the Youth Forumread an appeal adopted by all thirty-eight students at the YouthForum in Ifrane. They expressed their commitment to theconservation of heritage and requested the assistance ofUNESCO to organise further youth forum in the region. Thestudents referred to the role of media and modern technology inraising awareness of the necessity of preserving the world’sheritage and noted the important role of revitalisation oftraditional crafts in the maintenance of heritage and identity.They concluded by calling on the young people of the world tojoin with young people in the Arab region to protect their WorldHeritage. The Student Pledge from Ifrane is included as AnnexIV of this report.

I.20 The Director of the Centre sincerely thanked the youngpeople for their presentation and for their energy andcommitment in favour of heritage awareness and conservation.

II. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND THETIMETABLE

II.1 The Committee adopted the agenda (WHC-99/CONF./209/1), the Annotated Agenda (WHC-99/CONF.209/2) and the Provisional Calendar withmodifications. Following unanimous agreement, the Committeedecided to discuss the Agenda Item 7 on ‘Follow-up to the workof the Consultative Body to the World Heritage Committee’, toenable a working group to be established under this agenda itemand for it to complete its task as early as possible during thesession. In response to the interventions by the Delegates ofAustralia, Belgium, Canada, Hungary, Thailand and Zimbabwe,the Chairperson proposed to hold discussions on Item 7 beforeagenda Item 10 which deals with the state of conservation ofproperties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger andthe World Heritage List, at the end of the afternoon session onMonday, 29 November, 1999. This was accepted and he thenrequested the Secretariat to redraft the timetable accordingly.

III. REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT ON THEACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN SINCE THETWENTY-SECOND SESSION OF THE WORLDHERITAGE COMMITTEE

III.1 Mr Mounir Bouchenaki, in his capacity as Director ofthe World Heritage Centre and Secretary to the World HeritageCommittee, presented the report on activities undertaken sincethe last session of the World Heritage Committee in 1998.

III.2 He referred to the Information Document WHC-99/CONF/209.INF.5 and used an audiovisual presentation tohighlight the important points of the document.

III.3 The Director of the Centre indicated that Chad andIsrael had ratified the Convention in 1999, bringing the numberof States Parties to the World Heritage Convention to 158.Concerning new nominations for inscription, the Director notedthat in spite of the fact that the majority of these new nominationsemanated from western European countries, nominations havealso been received for the first time from the following fiveStates Parties, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Africa, SaintChristopher & Nevis, Suriname and Turkmenistan. He indicatedthat this was a positive sign for better representivity of the List inthe future. The Director also underlined that 109 of the 158States Parties have submitted tentative lists of sites they may

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wish to nominate in future in conformity with the formatprescribed by the Operational Guidelines.

III.4 The Director then emphasized the importance of thework of the Global Strategy to ensure a representative WorldHeritage List and drew the attention of the Committee to acertain number of regional thematic meetings that had been heldon this subject. He mentioned, in particular, the expert meetingon African cultural landscapes which was held in Kenya inMarch, activities and missions carried out in the Arab regionwhich will contribute towards the organization of a series ofworkshops to strengthen conservation capacity in the field ofnatural heritage in the region and to the second Global StrategyMeeting for the Pacific Region held in Vanuatu in associationwith the Pacific Islands Museums Association (PIMA). He alsostated that a meeting was held in Brastagi, Indonesia, inDecember 1998, organized jointly by the Ministry of Forestry ofIndonesia and the World Heritage Centre, to study how theConvention may be implemented in the framework of protectingbiodiversity of forest habitats. The Director mentioned twoadditional meetings on cultural landscapes, one in Slovakia inJune 1999 concerning the preparation of Management Guidelinesfor Cultural Landscapes and the other in Poland in October 1999,convening experts from fourteen States Parties from EasternEurope and representatives of the three advisory bodies. He alsoreferred to the efforts undertaken by the Centre to ensure betterrepresentativity of the List in Asia and the Caribbean.

III.5 With regard to the conservation of World Heritage sitesand the presentation of the periodic reports, the Director recalledthe decisions of the Committee and the General Assemblyconcerning this issue. He informed the Committee that aCircular Letter with the new format and explanatory notes hadbeen addressed to all States Parties, and that an informationbrochure on the presentation of periodic reports had beenelaborated and distributed in 1999 as a follow-up to thesedecisions.

III.6 The Director indicated that two expert meetingsorganized by ICCROM were held in 1999. These meetings hadelaborated a structure for a reference manual for monitoring thestate of conservation. Numerous initiatives were cited by theDirector which had been undertaken by some States Parties insupport of the submission of periodic reports, such as trainingseminars organized by the Russian Federation and the Republicof Korea, as well as other national seminars. The Directoremphasized the importance of these seminars and indicated thatother seminars and workshops are under preparation for 2000,particularly in Asia. Among the initiatives undertaken, theDirector presented a new database, available on the Centre’sIntranet, which incorporates all information relating to sitessituated in Asia. He encouraged the creation of similar databasesfor other regions.

III.7 Sixty-seven reports, nineteen of which concerned sitesinscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, weresubmitted to the Centre in 1999. The Director noted that amajority of the reports submitted for examination by theCommittee concerned sites situated in Asia and Latin Americaand the Caribbean. He expressed concern about the increasingnumber of serious problems facing certain sites, in particular theKathmandu Valley (Nepal) where recent deterioration of thehistoric fabric has been reported by the UNESCO mission thattook place in October 1999. He also mentioned, among othersites, the Group of Monuments at Hampi in India, where twobridges are currently under construction, Machu Picchu in Peruwhere a cable car is proposed and the Iguazu National Park inBrazil which has suffered negative effects due to the constructionof a road which crosses the site, and to numerous helicopterflights in this area. The many natural catastrophes that hadcaused important damage, notably in Latin America and the

Caribbean, and the need to develop specific activities to assist theStates concerned, were mentioned by the Director.

III.8 In reporting on the implementation of InternationalAssistance, the Director drew the attention of the Committee tothe fact that 40% of Preparatory Assistance had been allocated tonatural sites. He continued by informing the Committee thatTechnical Co-operation had to a great extent been allocated toAfrican natural sites and that the greater part of preparatoryassistance for cultural sites had been to support sites in Europe,and Latin American and the Caribbean.

III.9 The Director then referred to activities of the Centre’sDocumentation, Information and Education Unit, emphasizingthe importance of these activities, in particular the developmentof a modern information management system. He alsounderlined the need to prepare specific information documentsoriented to respond on the one hand to the needs of States Parties,and on the other to the public at large and the media. He alsopresented the UNESCO Special Project “Young people’sparticipation in the preservation and promotion of WorldHeritage” and informed the Committee that the most recentYouth Forum was held at the Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane,Morocco, during which young people of the Arab region had theopportunity to improve their knowledge of the Convention byattending numerous workshops. He also recalled that theEducational Kit entitled “World Heritage in young hands” isnow available in Arabic. He highlighted the need to strengthenthis programme.

III.10 In the framework of activities and co-operation with theadvisory bodies, the Director reported on a certain number ofmeetings held during the year and expressed satisfaction with theincreasing co-operation between the advisory bodies and theCentre.

III.11 The Director evoked the spirit of co-operation thatexisted between the Centre and the other Division of UNESCO,notably the Division of Ecological Sciences, the Division ofEarth Sciences, the Education Sector and the Division of CulturalHeritage. He also noted the increasing number of activitiesundertaken by the regional offices and focal points incollaboration with the Centre.

III.12 In emphasizing the need to strengthen international co-operation and facilitate exchanges between the States, theDirector presented a new Internet site on Afghanistan, funded bythe World Heritage Fund and the Funds-in-Trust of ProfessorHirayama. This site will soon be available on the web. He alsospoke of the co-operation between the Centre and organizationssuch as The World Bank, UNDP, with particular reference to theactivities carried out in co-operation with the United NationsFoundation, thanks to which several projects, in particular theGalapagos Islands and sites in the Democratic Republic of theCongo, have been financed.

III.13 In the framework of co-operation between the States,the Director cited as an example, the Nara Seminar for theIntegrity and Development of Historic Cities that provided theopportunity for a dialogue between eleven cities inscribed on theWorld Heritage List. He also indicated that the Agreementbetween France and UNESCO for the Protection andDevelopment of Monumental and Urban Heritage is nowoperational. Sixteen activities have been defined in thisAgreement which aim at supporting under-represented StatesParties in the preparation of nomination files and providingtechnical co-operation input.

III.14 With regard to the follow-up of the work of theConsultative Body, the Director recalled the terms of reference ofthe Strategic Task Force on the future of the World HeritageConvention.

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III.15 The Director also presented the organizational chart ofthe Centre and insisted on the need to strengthen the Centre at alllevels. He drew the attention of the Committee to the need toregularize the five posts requested during the thirteenth session ofthe UNESCO General Conference to respond to the most urgentneeds. He also emphasized that many core functions of theCentre were currently being carried out by contractors.

III.16 The Chairperson thanked the Director of the Centre, forhis excellent presentation. The Delegations of Ecuador, Japanand the Republic of Korea, also thanked the Centre and noted thewide diversity of activities undertaken by the Centre. They alsoinsisted upon the need to strengthen the structure and the staff ofthe Centre.

III.17 The Delegate of Republic of Korea specificallymentioned his satisfaction with the close collaboration betweenthe Centre and States Parties in the Asian region. He expressedhis appreciation for the support provided to the DemocraticPeople’s Republic of Korea referring to it as an exemplary caseof promoting “the cultural of peace in the framework of theWorld Heritage Convention”.

IV. REPORTS OF THE RAPPORTEURS ON THESESSIONS OF THE WORLD HERITAGEBUREAU

IV.1 The Rapporteur of the twenty-third session of theBureau (5 – 10 July 1999), and the third extraordinary session ofthe World Heritage Committee, 12 July 1999, presented the tworeports WHC-99/CONF.209/4 and WHC-99/CONF.209/5respectively. Concerning the report of the twenty-third session ofthe Bureau, Mr Janos Jelen (Hungary) said the report reflects thedebate of the Bureau and the document can be instrumental forStates Parties and the members of the Committee when theyprepare themselves for future meetings. Regarding the report ofthe third extraordinary session of the Committee, the Rapporteursaid that he hoped that the report would be scrutinized intensivelyin the years to come since the deliberations of the Committee setexamples for the future. He said that he felt honoured and proudthat he could take part in the work of the Committee and theBureau. With no comments from the members of the Committeethe two reports were adopted.

IV.2 The Rapporteur of the twenty-third extraordinarysession of the Bureau held in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 26 – 27November 1999, Ms Anne Lammila (Finland), presented thereport (WHC-99/CONF.209/6). The Rapporteur said the reportwas prepared in collaboration with the World Heritage Centre.She paid tribute to the personnel of the Centre and noted that thework of the Centre had become very demanding, and that somechanges should be made in the working methods of theCommittee. Proposals in this respect were welcome from allCommittee members and observers.

IV.3 The following delegates and observers madecontributions to the report: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada,Colombia, France, Germany, Hungary, Philippines, Portugal,Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Zimbabwe,ICOMOS and IUCN.

IV.4 The Chairperson reported on his meeting with arepresentative of the United Nations Foundation, Mr. NicholasLapham, and the Director of the World Heritage Centre. TheUnited Nations Foundation was created in January 1998 by MrTed Turner to support United Nations activities in the field ofenvironment, improvement of child health, women and thepopulation.

IV.5 The Representative informed the Chairperson that theUNF Board of Directors had approved, at the beginning ofNovember 1999, an overall strategy for biodiversity that wouldprimarily focus on natural World Heritage sites inscribed fortheir biodiversity values (e.g. criterion (iv)). Therefore, theFoundation would contribute over several years to thestrengthening and the protection and the management of sites, thefirst of which are the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, and theWorld Heritage sites in Danger in the Democratic Republic of theCongo.

IV.6 The UNF Representative also informed of the wish ofthe Foundation to participate towards the promotion of theConvention to raise awareness of the public and concernedgovernmental authorities.

IV.7 In reporting on this meeting, the Chairpersonemphasized the very positive aspects for the Convention. TheUNF Representative would observe the work of the Committeeand was available to those members of the Committee who mightwish for more detailed information.

IV.8 The Rapporteur thanked delegations that had madecontributions and the report was adopted with the proposedamendments.

V. REPORT ON THE DECISION OF THEGENERAL ASSEMBLY OF STATES PARTIESWITH REGARD TO “WAYS AND MEANS TOENSURE A REPRESENTATIVE WORLDHERITAGE LIST”

V.1 Mr Isidore Monsi (Benin), Rapporteur of the twelfthsession of the General Assembly of the States Party to the WorldHeritage Convention, presented the report (WHC-99/CONF.209/7) of this session.

V.2 In qualifying the session as “historic”, Mr IsidoreMonsi, (Benin), reported on the convergence of views relating tothe actions proposed in the framework of the Global Strategy andin particular he emphasized the two substantial resolutionsunanimously adopted by the States Parties, namely the resolutionon “the ways and means to ensure a representative WorldHeritage List” and the one relating to an equitable representationwithin the Committee.

V.3 The Document WHC-99/CONF.209/8 submittedproposals referring to the implementation of the two resolutionsthat demand close examination by the Committee. Referring inparticular to the first resolution, he emphasized that in theopinion of many of the delegates attending the GeneralAssembly, its application should be implicit to a true politicalwill.

V.4 He invited all the partners involved in theimplementation of the Global Strategy to arm themselves withthis will and thanked the Secretariat for their excellent work andtheir determination in the spearheading process.

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TASK FORCE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLDHERITAGE CONVENTION

At the request of the World Heritage Committee, a workinggroup chaired by Canada submits to the Committee proposalsrelating to the composition and terms of reference of a TaskForce aimed at improving the implementation of the WorldHeritage Convention.

Composition of the Task Force:The same as the working group established by the Committee inMarrakesh 1999, chaired by Canada and including Australia,Belgium, Hungary, Morocco, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand,and the advisory bodies (ICOMOS, ICCROM and IUCN) and arepresentative of the World Heritage Centre. Australia agreed toact as rapporteur.

Terms of reference of the Task Force:To identify and propose for consideration of the Bureau in June2000 priority practical measures for more effective operation ofthe Convention, taking account of pressures affecting theConvention over the coming years. Those measures, some ofwhich should be applicable in preparation of and during theCommittee meeting of December 2000, will focus on:

• The organization and running of the statutory meetings, • The procedures for decision making, • The information and documentation management, • The Operational Guidelines.

The Task Force will take into account and further build upon alldiscussions in previous General Assembly, Committee andBureau meetings (see WHC-99/CONF.209/9), the managementreview and financial audit, and proposals made by State Parties.

Working methods:The Task Force will operate in a way that maximizes theopportunity for State Party input. A concise draft paper will becirculated by March 2000 and comments will be sought by faxand email. The draft paper will be posted on the UNESCOhomepage.

Possible further developments:After having considered the proposals of the Task Force, theBureau, at its meeting of June 2000, will recommend forCommittee consideration a possible new working group to reflectin depth on the objectives and fundamental priorities inimplementing the Convention.

VIII. INFORMATION ON TENTATIVE LISTS ANDEXAMINATION OF NOMINATIONS OFCULTURAL AND NATURAL PROPERTIES TOTHE LIST OF WORLD HERITAGE IN DANGERAND WORLD HERITAGE LIST

The Chairperson indicated that all the cultural nominations forinscription are included in the tentative lists of the countriesconcerned.

EXAMINATION OF NOMINATIONS OF CULTURALAND NATURAL PROPERTIES TO THE LIST OFWORLD HERITAGE IN DANGER

VIII.1 Following the review of the state of conservationreports and at the recommendation of the Bureau, the Committeedecided to inscribe the following natural and cultural propertieson the List of World Heritage in Danger:

•••• Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of theCongo)

•••• Rwenzori Mountains National Park (Uganda) •••• Iguaçu National Park (Brazil) •••• Hampi (India)

VIII.2 The Committee did not recommend the deletion ofproperties from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

EXAMINATION OF NOMINATIONS OF CULTURALAND NATURAL PROPERTIES TO THE WORLDHERITAGE LIST

VIII.3 The Committee approved the change of the name of thefollowing property included on the World Heritage List:

"Sokkuram Grotto" to "Sokkuram Grotto and PulguksaTemple” (Republic of Korea)

Concerning the request from Germany, that "RomanMonuments, Cathedral and Liebfrauen-Church in Trier" ischanged to “Roman Monuments, Cathedral Saint Peter andSt. Mary’s Church in Trier", the Chairperson suggestedconsultations between the Centre and the State Party todefine the correct English version.

A. NATURAL HERITAGE

A.1 Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List

Property Península ValdésId. N° 937State Party ArgentinaCriteria N (iv)

The Committee decided to inscribe Peninsula Valdés on theWorld Heritage List under criterion (iv).

Peninsula Valdés contains very important and significant naturalhabitats for the in-situ conservation of several threatened speciesof outstanding universal value, and specifically its globallyimportant concentration of breeding southern right whales, whichis an endangered species. It is also important because of thebreeding populations of southern elephant seals and southern sealions. The area exhibits an exceptional example of adaptation ofhunting techniques by the orca to the local coastal conditions.

The Committee commended the government of the Province ofChubut for promoting the preparation of an IntegratedCollaborative Management Plan for this site. The Committeerecommended that the State Party, along with responsibleregional and local bodies should: (a) ensure that effectivecontrols are in place over any possible pollution threat from thetown of Puerto Madryn to the waters of Golfo Nuevo, (b) supportthe efforts of the relevant authorities to secure the equipmentneeded to respond quickly to any oil hazard from passingshipping so as to protect the marine conservation values of thearea; (c) produce a tourism management plan as an integralelement of the overall management plan; (d) encourageimplementation of the Integrated Collaborative ManagementPlan, and in particular to ensure that farmers and other privateowners of land can play a full part in the development ofenvironmentally responsible tourism; and (e) work at theinternational level to ensure that the marine mammals concernedare protected throughout their range.

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Criterion (iv): Nikko is a perfect illustration of thearchitectural style of the Edo period as applied to Shintoshrines and Buddhist temples. The Gongen-zukuri style ofthe two mausoleums, the Tôshôgû and the Taiyû-in Reibyô,reached the peak of its expression in Nikko, and was later toexert a decisive influence. The ingenuity and creativity of itsarchitects and decorators are revealed in an outstanding anddistinguished manner.

Criterion (vi): The Nikko shrines and temples, together withtheir environment, are an outstanding example of a traditionalJapanese religious centre, associated with the Shintoperception of the relationship of man with nature, in whichmountains and forests have a sacred meaning and are objectsof veneration, in a religious practice that is still very muchalive today.

The Committee took note of the comments of ICOMOS that thedevelopment pressure near the south-west border of the sitewould require the State Party to be vigilant in monitoringpotential threats in the future.

Property Historic Fortified Town of CampecheId. N° 895State Party MexicoCriteria C (ii) (iv)

The Committee inscribed the site on the World Heritage List onthe basis of criteria (ii) and (iv):

Criterion (ii): The harbour town of Campeche is anurbanization model of a Baroque colonial town, with itscheckerboard street plan; the defensive walls surrounding itshistoric centre reflect the influence of the militaryarchitecture in the Caribbean.

Criterion (iv): The fortifications system of Campeche, aneminent example of the military architecture of the 17th and18th centuries, is part of an overall defensive system set upby the Spanish to protect the ports on the Caribbean Sea frompirate attacks.

At the initiative of ICOMOS and with the agreement of the StatesParty the title of the property was changed to the HistoricFortified Town of Campeche.

Property The Archaeological Monuments Zone ofXochicalco

Id. N° 939State Party MexicoCriteria C (iii) (iv)

The Committee inscribed the site on the World Heritage List onthe basis of criteria (iii) and (iv):

Criterion (iii): Xochicalco is an exceptionally well preservedand complete example of a fortified settlement from theEpiclassic Period of Mesoamerica.

Criterion (iv): The architecture and art of Xochicalco representthe fusion of cultural elements from different parts ofMesoamerica, at a period when the breakdown of earlierpolitical structures resulted in intensive cultural regrouping.

The Committee recommended that the State Party take note ofthe recommendation to upgrade visitor facilities, security andmanagement planning.

Property Droogmakerij de Beemster (BeemsterPolder)

Id. N° 899State Party NetherlandsCriteria C (i) (ii) (iv)

The Committee inscribed the site on the World Heritage List onthe basis of criteria (i), (ii), and (iv):

Criterion (i): The Beemster Polder is a masterpiece of creativeplanning, in which the ideals of antiquity and the Renaissancewere applied to the design of a reclaimed landscape.

Criterion (ii): The innovative and intellectually imaginativelandscape of the Beemster Polder had a profound and lastingimpact on reclamation projects in Europe and beyond.

Criterion (iv): The creation of the Beemster Polder marks amajor step forward in the interrelationship between humankindand water at a crucial period of social and economic expansion.

Referring to the particular character of the nominations of theNetherlands, the Observer of the Netherlands informed theCommittee that very recently the parliament of the Netherlandshad accepted a policy document on the integration of culturalheritage – archaeology, built heritage and cultural landscapes - innational, provincial and local planning policies. World Heritagepreservation is explicitly incorporated in this document. TheNetherlands would be pleased to share this kind of experiencewith other States Parties.

Property Sukur Cultural LandscapeId. N° 938State Party NigeriaCriteria C (iii) (v) (vi)

The Committee inscribed the property on the World Heritage Liston the basis of criteria (iii), (v) and (vi):

Criterion (iii): Sukur is an exceptional landscape thatgraphically illustrates a form of land-use that marks a criticalstage in human settlement and its relationship with itsenvironment

Criterion (v): The cultural landscape of Sukur has survivedunchanged for many centuries, and continues to do so at aperiod when this form of traditional human settlement is underthreat in many parts of the world.

Criterion (vi): The cultural landscape of Sukur is eloquenttestimony to a strong and continuing spiritual and culturaltradition that has endured for many centuries.

Several members of the Committee expressed their pleasure andemotion following the inscription of this cultural landscape onthe World Heritage List as it reflects international recognition ofAfrican heritage and is of significant importance in achieving thegoals of the Global Strategy.

The Chairperson, in the name of the Committee, congratulatedNigeria and expressed the wish that, in the near future,nominations for inscription from the biggest state in Africa thatbear witness to its richness, its cultural diversity, and illustratethe specificity of African heritage would be submitted forinscription.

H.E. the Federal Minister for Culture and Tourism thanked theCommittee and ICOMOS, the World Heritage Centre andtransmitted to them a message from the highest authorities in hiscountry. The text of his intervention is included as Annex VI tothis report.

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Annex VI

Acceptance speech of OJO MADUEKWE Minister of Culture and TourismOn the occasion of the inscription of the Sukur cultural landscape on the World

Heritage list: 23rd session of UNESCO World Heritage Committee(29th November - 4th December 1999 ) at Marrakesh Morocco.

- Your Excellency the President of UNESCOWorld Heritage Committee- Ladies and gentlemen

Our delegation brings fraternal greetings fromPresident OLUSEGUN OBASANJO and theGovernment and people of Nigeria. We are mostdelighted with the excellent arrangements whichthe Government of the Kingdom of Morocco hasmade for the conference. And may I use thisopportunity to wish his Royal Majesty, KingMohammed VI, a long and prosperous reign.

I hasten to mention that with us from Nigeria is theADAMAWA STATE Governor, His ExcellencyBONI HARUNA. ADAMAWA is one of the 36states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and hometo Sukur Cultural Landscape, which has just beenhonoured by this committee as a World HeritageSite. I also wish to acknowledge the presence inour delegation of His Excellency, AmbassadorAbdoul-Wahab Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco;Dr Gella Director-General National Museums, andMonuments of Nigeria; and Dr Eborieme Co-ordinator of UNESCO World Heritage project inNigeria.

The historic inscription of the first World HeritageSite in Nigeria has implications for the culturalrediscovery of Nigeria by Nigerians and the rest ofthe world far beyond the most optimisticexpectations of those friends who gave earlysupport to the project. It is to all such friends thatwe dedicate this honour.

With over 120 Million people and 450 ethno-linguistic communities, and every fourth African aNigerian, recognition of one site out of a possible31 no less deserving sites might appear to be a dropin the ocean. But it was a drop that came quitetimely at a critical point of intolerable thirst in the

midst of so much water. For us in Nigeria what ishappening here in this ancient and fascinating cityof Marrakech is a great beginning and worthypreface to the future. We cannot thank theUNESCO Heritage Committee enough for makingthis possible.

Coming on the heels of Nigeria's recent re-entryinto all those international fora where its pastcontributions earned it respect before the years ofisolation, the inscription of Sukur is a tonic for thedemocratic renewal and the national reconciliationthat has been in place since the election ofPresident OLUSEGUN OBASANJO. SUKUR hasthe distinction of being a cultural property admittedinto the World Heritage list on the basis of thecontinuity of customary laws, community ethos,and spiritual values. It is symbolic of the enduringheritage of a very diverse wider African society. Itgives hints of the glue that binds together acomplex polity whose leadership, even as atnow, remains challenged by the intricacies ofnation- building. SUKUR will therefore be forus an enduring metaphor for a re-invigoratedNigeria that is set to bless all humanity with anexperience of its rich cultural heritage in thedefining years of the next millenium.

It is indeed on the wings of that pledge that I wishto draw your generous attention to the over 31cultural heritage sites which have already beensubmitted to UNESCO World Heritage Committeeas at 1999. Your expeditious consideration of thelist will represent a long over-dueacknowledgement of the significant contribution ofAfrica to the collective heritage of the world. Fornow, welcome to Nigeria, on your way to SUKUR,Africa's first cultural landscape.

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