Wednesday, June 13, 2012

CULTURE: Georgia on the List of World Heritage in Danger (whc.unesco.org)

(whc.unesco.org) This document contains information on the state of conservation of thirty four natural and cultural properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies therefore submit herewith reports for review by the Committee. Where appropriate, the World Heritage Centre or the Advisory Bodies will provide additional information during the session of the Committee. 


30. Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery (Georgia) (C 710)

Year(s) of inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger: 2010
Year of inscription on the World Heritage List: 1994
Criteria: (iv)
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
Irreversible interventions as part of major reconstruction of the structure of Bagrati Cathedral
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
Adopted in Decision - 34COM 7B.88

Corrective measures identified
Adopted in Decision - 34COM 7B.88

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
Adopted in Decision - 34COM 7B.88

Previous Committee Decisions

International Assistance N/A
UNESCO extra-budgetary funds N/A

Previous monitoring missions
November 2003, June 2008 and and March 2010: Joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS reactive monitoring missions
Factors affecting the property identified in previous reports
a) General need for interior and exterior conservation work on the monuments;
b) Insufficient coordination between the Georgian Church and the national authorities;
c) Lack of co-ordinated management system;
d) Major reconstruction of the structure of Bagrati Cathedral.

Illustrative material

Current conservation issues
At its 34th session the Committee requested the State Party to halt work on a monumental, stone-clad, reinforced concrete reconstruction of Bagrati Cathedral that had been started without its approval and decided to inscribe the property on the World Heritage List in Danger. At the 35th session, the Committee noted that work on reconstructing the Cathedral according to the monumental scheme had been halted.

The Committee also took note that according to the international conservation architect appointed as a consultant for the Bagrati Cathedral that the incomplete structural condition of the Bagrati Cathedral was not sustainable, that it might not be feasible to reverse what has been recently built as the interventions are almost irreversible, and that a lightweight roof could be mounted on the existing concrete columns.

The Committee requested the State Party to produce a Rehabilitation Strategy that could allow the building to be brought back into use, while reversing the maximum amount of recent work and incorporating fragments of the original building where they form part of the walls.

The Rehabilitation Strategy was to be presented to the Committee for approval before a detailed rehabilitation project was submitted, and before any further work on the Cathedral was undertaken.

As also requested by the Committee at its 35th session, a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission visited the property from 22 to 28 April 2012 to discuss the Rehabilitation Strategy and to consider the overall state of conservation of the property.

At the time of drafting this report, only a preliminary mission report has been received. However, the report shows that a monumental re-building of the Cathedral using modern materials was well underway at the time of the mission.

The State Party submitted a State of Conservation Report on 31 January 2012. The report did not mention the fact that re-building work was well under way. The report addressed progress made with the drafting of the Rehabilitation Strategy for Bagrati Cathedral, with conservation work at Gelati monastery, and with drafting a retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value. Further documents relating to the re-building of the Cathedral were submitted on 15 May 2012, after the mission had taken place. They included a revised Rehabilitation Strategy, details of the engineering work carried out, and a partial report on archaeological investigations, but no detailed plans of the re-building project.

a) Rehabilitation Strategy for Bagrati Cathedral The State Party submitted a first draft of a Rehabilitation Strategy in January 2012. This was drafted following a round table discussion organised at the request of the State Party at the World Heritage Centre on 9 November 2011 and attended by representatives of the State Party, the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and ICCROM. This meeting agreed that the purpose of the Rehabilitation Strategy was to set out a rationale for a project to allow the Cathedral to be brought back into use.

It was agreed that as the conservation history of Bagrati Cathedral is complex, and as recent interventions have to an extent limited certain options, the Rehabilitation Strategy needed to set out the necessary evidence to justify any rebuilding approach that was being suggested.

The meeting discussed a possible alternative approach to the monumental concrete option which could be based on a combination of reinforcement of the original parts of the fabric that had already been implemented (and agreed as being non-reversible), rebuilding using the four hundred or so stone blocks on site, where detailed evidence exists in the central and eastern part, and the insertion of modern construction in the west where evidence is lacking. The roof would be supported by lightweight steelwork and the whole construction would respect detailed archaeological research and allow for conservation of the original fabric. This approach would have the advantage of reversibility of the new construction.

The first draft of the Rehabilitation Strategy submitted by the State Party in January 2012 set out an approach based on recreating the eastern and central part of the Cathedral for which evidence exists, and completing the building with new structures at the western end where there is no evidence or little original material remains.

The draft Strategy was reviewed by ICOMOS who considered that in some places there was a need for further information and analysis in order to provide a clearer understanding as to the extent of the interventions to the fabric so far, the technical and conservation issues that these create. In general terms, ICOMOS considered that Strategy needed to be clearer on what could be reversed and what could not be reversed and how much of the existing recent work was needed from a structural point of view, what would be modified, and how new strengthening would be addressed. ICOMOS also considered that there was a certain amount of overlap between the strategy and the resulting project which needed to be resolved in the document. ICOMOS stressed that no approval had been given for the re-building project – as inferred in the draft strategy.

It was agreed that the reactive monitoring mission should discuss these comments with the State Party, so that a revised Rehabilitation Strategy could be submitted to the Committee at its forthcoming session.

This aim has however been overtaken by the resumption of work on the Cathedral which appears to have started after the last session of the Committee. A second draft of the Rehabilitation Strategy was submitted by the State Party on 15 May 2012. However, as by this time reconstruction work was well under way, the purpose of the strategy as a document that could inform a reconstruction project is no longer relevant. The document has become a justification for work already carried out. In it the State Party concludes that the impact on the Outstanding Universal Value is negligible.

b) Stabilisation works of the Bagrati Cathedral
Although the State Party report states that some urgent stabilization works were undertaken to the west wall necessary for further supporting structures that might be needed for the rehabilitation strategy, as explained in a letter to the World Heritage Centre of 27 September 2011 to which the World Heritage Centre responded in the affirmative on 5 October 2011, the mission observed a very different situation. Work on re-building the Cathedral was seen to be progressing non-stop to achieve a full reconstruction of the building, using stone-clad reinforced cement in the central and eastern parts, together with modern interventions in the western part, mostly along the lines of the original monumental project combined with the plans drawn up by the international conservation architect. A cast concrete cupola had already been partially raised up. The State Party confirmed to the mission that the inauguration of the Cathedral is being planned for September 2012.

The idea of restoring those parts of the building where evidence exists, on the basis of careful documentation and research, and conservation of the original fabric, has been abandoned.

c) Structural additions:
The mission was provided with information on the major structural interventions undertaken so far, and these have been confirmed in further information received from the State Party. These are:

- Completion of consolidation work on interior and exterior foundations of the load bearing walls;
- Creation of four central concrete pillars on the bases of the original ones;
- Installation of underground reinforced concrete beams, connecting the four pillars with the underground foundation of the exterior walls, which according to Georgian engineers, are placed under the archaeological level;
- Covering of the interior surface of the church walls with stone cladding, on a reinforced base – a totally irreversible process.
Although these works were stated to be necessary for the stability of the church in an earthquake zone, in reality these drastic interventions actually allowed the realisation of the first phase of the reconstruction project, in providing the necessary stability to allow for the proposed concrete cupola and the new roof.
d) Re-construction:
The mission observed the following work being undertaken:
- Western part:
In this end of the church, where inadequate original material and evidence exists for a full reconstruction, reinforced concrete beams have been installed in order to support the new stone and metal roof.
- North-west corner:
A metal construction has been prepared (with iron inserts into the original fabric), to support the new staircase and a lift that will lead to a first floor museum.
- Central part:
A reinforced concrete dome has been installed, theoretically supported by the four central concrete pillars together with concrete arches to supplement the concrete pillars, although the latter are still under construction. All the new (interior and exterior) surfaces are stone-clad. The only non-clad surface is in the area of the proposed museum. The gaps in the interior of the fabric are grouted with cement.
- Northern and southern wings:
Raised over the historical porticos with their famous stone reliefs, are reinforced concrete constructions, with iron supports for the metal roof covering.
- Eastern end:
This is being completed by continuing the reconstruction work of the 1950’s. It is being roofed over in a similar way to the rest of the building.

The mission observed that the current work has not been based on conservation of the existing fabric, some of which was acknowledged as being in an extremely fragile state during the previous mission in 2010, has not respected the archaeological layers, is not reversible.

Furthermore all these interventions have completely ignored the evidence brought to light by recent archaeological research. This identified the precise place of almost 400 of the original building stones that survived on the site. Of these, only two or three have been placed in their original position as examples.

In the Mission’s view the necessary stabilisation of the Cathedral could have been achieved in other less drastic ways and should have been submitted as part of the rehabilitation strategy for discussion.

The second draft of the Rehabilitation Strategy submitted by the State Party attempts to justify the reconstruction now being undertaken and states that the reconstruction will respect and rescue all the original material that existed at the time of inscription. However, the mission noted that only two of the four hundred fallen blocks were being re-used. The covering of the original fabric under a contemporary stone cladding on a reinforced concrete base will irreversibly damage the authenticity of the original structure, and also eliminate any historical evidence of the past interventions that are part of the history of the church.

In order to support the new reinforced concrete dome, excavations have been made in the central part of the church, to install additional sub-foundations for the parametric walls and large reinforced concrete beams have destroyed much of the archaeological layers, including, it appears, important discoveries of tombs inside the church, as reported in the media.

The overall approach was not considered by the mission to respect the aim to rehabilitate the church in a way that respected its fabric, archaeological layers and overall its Outstanding Universal Value, as had been envisaged by the Committee. The second draft of the Rehabilitation Strategy states that at the time of inscription the monument was not totally in a ruined condition with parts reconstructed. This was accepted at the time of inscription but it is no justification for a monumental re-building that is being carried out without prior approval either as a strategy or in terms of detail by the Committee.

A detailed appraisal of this second draft Rehabilitation Strategy will be undertaken by ICOMOS and submitted to the State Party.

e) Topological and Archaeological Surveys around Bagrati Cathedral
The State Party report provides details of work undertaken to increase knowledge of the wider archaeological area around the Cathedral. In addition to topographic and cadastral surveys of the site carried out in early 2011, a non-intrusive archaeological survey of the entire Bagrati Cathedral part of the property was undertaken in November-December 2011. The results of this survey revealed a high density of archaeological layers in the survey area, including evidence of fortifications and royal residences.

The mission considered that the resulting data is highly important for understanding the significance of the context of the property. Such evidence could have been used as the basis of a Master Plan for the property and its setting to allow understanding of the way the area has evolved.

f) Gelati Monastery conservation work
The State Party reports that conservation works were continued within the framework of the Gelati Monastery Conservation Master Plan. The mission assessed the on-going works, which focused in 2011 on the Rehabilitation of the palace of Bishop Gabriel. Through a cooperation agreement between the Restoration Faculty at the State Academy of Fine Arts (NACHPG) and Lugano University, and with the financial support of the Swiss National Science Foundation, international conservation specialists were involved in the stone and wall painting conservation programme during 2010-2011. Within the framework of a complex programme for the systematic conservation and restoration of the interior wall-paintings and mosaics in Gelati Monastery churches. As a result of this co-operation the following works were undertaken:
- Assessment of condition of mural paintings in the St. Marine chapel of the main church of Gelati;
- Stone condition assessment of the St. George church of Gelati and risk mapping;
- Conservation of carved stone frame around the entrance door of the St. George church of Gelati.
With the support of the NACHPG, it is planned to continue the involvement of these international specialists and with their associated students in future stone and wall painting conservation work.

The mission noted that the State Party has made significant progress in implementing the requested corrective measures regarding this component of the property.

A clear institutional coordination mechanism, ensuring that the conservation of the Gelati Monastery receives priority consideration within relevant governmental decision-making processes, has been established. A complex programme for the structural conservation and restoration of the churches in Gelati Monastery is being implemented.

The Gelati Monastery master plan presented in 2010 gives adequate answers to problems relating to the needs of the monastic community, and of the visitors to the monastic complex. The mission confirms that there is a proper organization of the functions inside the monastery grounds, taking into consideration the fact that the property is a living monument.

As already mentioned by the 2010 mission, there is also provision in case of a rising number of the monks, for them to be established in a nearby place, outside of the monastery grounds. The master plan dissociates the visitors’ facilities from the monks’ life, proposing that the new visitors’ buildings be erected outside the monastery grounds, while the visitors would follow an organized route inside the monastic complex.

g) Retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value
The draft retrospective statement of Outstanding Universal Value submitted by the State Party is still under review by the Advisory Bodies.

Conclusions
The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note the observations of the mission that notwithstanding the agreement between the World Heritage Centre and the State Party in November 2011 that only emergency work might be undertaken to stabilise the building, in reality a full-blown re-construction of the Cathedral is well underway, largely according to the monumental concrete and stone clad plans rejected by the Committee at its 34th session, but with a lighter modern construction at the western end.

The mission also noted that although exemplary investigative work has been undertaken on the monument and its surroundings, no attempt has been made to undertake an archaeological reconstruction using original stones, where they exist, nor to to conserve the original fabric, some of which was in a fragile state, and apparently no attempt has been made to protect the archaeological layers where reinforced concrete beams have been installed below ground, and the recently discovered tombs.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note with disappointment that in spite of apparently positive meetings in 2011 between the State Party, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies on the basis of a clear understanding that the Reconstruction Strategy should be developed and presented to the Committee for approval before any re-construction work was undertaken, and that such a strategy should acknowledge the need for a careful analysis of the existing fabric, and that some of the recent interventions should be reversed to give maximum exposure of the original stone, this strategic approach has apparently been ignored. Similarly, the Committee’s explicit request made at its 35th session, that it approve such a strategy before any commitment to rebuild was not respected. The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies also note that after almost complete implementation of the monumental project, the State Party has submitted in May 2012 a second draft of the Rehabilitation Strategy that attempts to justify the work underway without however providing an explanation as to why a solution that respects the original fabric and is reversible has not been developed. The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies recommend that the Committee express deep regret that the opportunity to undertake a careful, reversible reconstruction of the majority of the building based on clear evidence of what previously existed, with sensitive new work introduced where evidence is lacking, which could have allowed the Cathedral to be re-used and valued as part of contemporary society has not been taken. They consider that the decision to inaugurate a new reconstructed Cathedral of Bagrati in September 2012 has prevailed over the commitment of the State Party to implement the Committee's decisions to allow future removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, as well as over the responsibility to sustain the Outstanding Universal Value of the property.

While the State Party has made significant progress in implementing the corrective measures regarding the Gelati Monastery, they consider that the work undertaken at Bagrati Cathedral does not respect the Corrective Measures agreed by the Committee nor will it contribute towards achieving the Desired State of Conservation. The new work has overwhelmed the original masonry to such an extent that the authenticity of the Cathedral has been irreversibly destroyed. Bagrati Cathedral can no longer be said to contribute to the criterion for which the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Draft Decision: 36 COM 7A.30
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 35 COM 7A.29, adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),
3. Welcomes the progress in the implementation of the rehabilitation programme and the conservation master plan for Gelati Monastery, as well as the progress in the establishment of a clear institutional coordination mechanism within the framework of the State Programme for Cultural Heritage in Georgia, involving all stakeholders concerned;
4. Notes with extreme concern that a reconstruction of Bagrati Cathedral is already well advanced, largely in line with plans, rejected by the Committee at its 34th session, for a monumental re-building using reinforced concrete, including a cast concrete cupola, and installing stone facing that covers much of the original stonework;
5. Further notes that, notwithstanding exemplary topological and archaeological surveys of the buildings, no attempt has been made to re-use the majority of the surviving fallen stones in their original places, in spite of the precise locations for some 400 stones having been identified;
6. Deeply regrets that no conservation of the original stonework has been undertaken, prior to the new work being started and that such work will now be impossible due to the irreversible nature of the recent interventions;
7. Expresses its great concern that, notwithstanding the production of a draft Rehabilitation Strategy for Bagrati Cathedral , as requested by the Committee, the subsequent comments by the Advisory Bodies, and the appointment of an international conservation architect, a strategic approach that would have optimised the retention of original stonework and allowed new interventions to be reversible and readily understood, has not been retained, and considers that the opportunity to bring the Bagrati Cathedral back into use, while at the same time sustaining its contribution to the Outstanding Universal Value of the property has been lost;
8. Also considers that the Bagrati Cathedral has been altered to such an extent that its authenticity has been irreversibly compromised and that it no longer contributes to the justification for the criterion for which the property was inscribed;
9. Deeply regrets that the decisions of the Committee at its 34th and 35th sessions have failed to protect Bagrati Cathedral;
10. Requests the State Party to submit, by 1 February 2013, a request for a major boundary modification for the property to allow Gelati Monastery to justify the criterion on its own;
11. Further encourages the State Party to seek the advice of the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in developing the boundary modification;
12. Decides to retain Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery (Georgia) on the World Heritage List in Danger.

+++

31. Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Georgia) (C 708)

Year of inscription on the World Heritage List 1994
Criteria (iii) (iv)
Year(s) of inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger 2009 to present

Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
a) Lack of a management mechanism;
b) Privatisation of surrounding land;
c) Loss of authenticity of some components due to restoration works conducted with unacceptable methods.

Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
Adopted, see page whc.unesco.org/4103

Corrective measures identified
Adopted, see page whc.unesco.org/4103

Previous Committee Decisions

International Assistance
Global amount granted to the property: USD 97,660
For details, see page whc.unesco.org/assistance

UNESCO extra-budgetary funds N/A

Previous monitoring missions November 2003, June 2008, March 2010 and April 2012:
Joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS reactive monitoring missions.
Factors affecting the property identified in previous reports
a) Lack of a management mechanism;
b) Lack of definition of property and buffer zones;
c) Privatisation of surrounding land;
d) Natural erosion of stone;
e) Loss of authenticity in recent works carried out by the Church;
f) Insufficient coordination between the Georgian Church and the national authorities.

Illustrative material

Current conservation issues

On 31 January 2012 the State Party submitted a detailed state of conservation report that addresses progress with the implementation of the corrective measures, including conservation work at Jvari Monastery, surveys of Svctitskhoveli Cathedral, clarification of boundaries and progress with the Management Plan. Details are also provided regarding a proposed visitor centre at Jvari Monastery.

A joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission visited the property between 23 and 28 April 2012, as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011).

a) Boundaries issues
The State Party has submitted to the World Heritage Centre updated retrospective cartographic documentation clarifying the boundaries of the property. However, the mission reported that there has not yet been any definition of the buffer zone. This work is seen as a pre-condition for the development of the Management Plan and for possible minor boundary modification of the property.

b) Management Plan
The State Party reported that the drafting of the Management Plan will take place during 2012 within the framework of an approved International Assistance Request and with the support of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation. This project will also consider the management system for the property and the possibility of establishing working groups to allow for the participation of representatives of the church authorities, NGOs and the Mtskheta civil society. The mission stressed the need for the Management Plan to acknowledge that the property is an ensemble of religious monuments within a very sensitive historical environment and thus needs to be managed as a cultural landscape.

c) Long-term consolidation, conservation and monitoring measures
The State Party reported that during 2012, a comprehensive conservation assessment of archaeological components of the property was undertaken and recommendations set out for their management. Conservation work was carried out on the roof, walls and stone plaques of the Jvari monastery, with the participation of an ICCROM expert, and of the wall paintings in the southern part of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. At the Cathedral, another capacity-training project headed by an international expert addressed the production of up to date measured drawings during 2010-2011. This resulted in a full set of measured drawings for the Cathedral that will form the basis for developping of a comprehensive conservation plan. At Samtavro nunnery, a project is being prepared to strengthen the southern support wall taking into account the 2010 mission recommendations.

The State Party reported that in 2011 the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation had allocated a special budget for monitoring of the property. In addition, a special project was implemented for monitoring the groundwater fluctuations around Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. It is anticipated that by the end of 2012, additional monitoring mechanisms will be proposed for all elements of the property.

d) Proposal for a Visitor Centre at Jvari Monastery
The State Party included in its report revised plans for the visitor centre at Jvari Monastery. These are said to take into account the comments made by ICOMOS on the initial plans in 2011. These plans will now be reviewed by ICOMOS and comments sent to the State Party.

e) Urban Land-Use Master Plan
At the initiative of the local authorities, work has begun on a systematic data collection of the urban topology, related development and other studies. This data will form the basis for an Urban Master Plan of the town which is being prepared and is due to be completed by the end of the year.

f) Urban development pressure
The 2010 mission report highlighted the need for special care to be given to the sensitive area extending along the river Mtkvari bank, between the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari church. It recommended that the area where the rivers converge should not be developed and that the historic landscape be restored. However, the 2012 mission noted that the State departments, in cooperation with the local authorities have proceeded with the construction of new administrative buildings (Police and Courts buildings and Conference Hall) in this area. The 2012 mission was also informed that a new Museum building is to be erected on the same area, the plans of which have already been approved, as well as a hotel complex. The mission also saw a new tourist information building in front of the entrance of the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, constructed in inappropriate style without any respect of the property’s value.

The 2012 mission noted that these considerable developments have been undertaken within one of the most sensitive areas of the property, in the visual corridor between the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the Jvari hill, is currently being assessed independently of the directions that may be developed by the Urban Master Plan and the Management Plan that are both under preparation. The mission further noted that although all these interventions have an immediate impact on the property, they have not been notified to the World Heritage Centre, in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.

g) State Programme for Cultural Heritage in Georgia - towards a strategic World Heritage country programming
The World Heritage Centre has been informed by the World Bank that a “Regional Development Program: An Integrated Approach to Urban Regeneration, Cultural and Natural Heritage for Economic Growth and Job Creation” is under implementation in Georgia. On 23 April 2012, the Minister of Finance of Georgia presented an “Innovative Approach to Regional Development” during a meeting organised by the Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Thematic Group, the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Sustainable Development Department and the South Caucasus Regional Management Unit at the World Bank Headquarters.

The 2012 mission has been informed that the Governor of Mtskheta discussed with the World Bank representative the possibility to extend this project to Mtskheta. The mission recommended to the authorities to establish, in coordination with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, a global approach for all projects and activities which could be developed for the World Heritage properties in Georgia. During the meeting with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the National Commission of Georgia for UNESCO, the mission underlined the urgency to develop this global approach towards a strategic World Heritage country programming in coherence and alignment with the State Programme for the protection of Georgian cultural heritage prepared by the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation. It was discussed that this country-based approach could be developed using the 5C Strategic Objectives in order to achieve greater coherence, efficiency and effectiveness at country level of all activities related to the protection, management and use of the World Heritage properties, and to avoid fragmentation and duplication of projects and activities.

Conclusions
The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note the detailed report from the State Party which includes and assessment of what has so far been achieved – identified as strengths, and its conclusion that the main weakness is the lack of a Management Plan and of a consolidated vision for the development of the property, both of which will be addressed this year.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies wish to highlight to the Committee their concern that despite the 2010 mission recommendation regarding the sensitive area extending along the river Mtkvari bank, between the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari church, the State Party authorised new constructions in this area and plans new developments which will impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, without any submission of these projects to the World Heritage Centre, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, for review and comments prior to any approval.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies underscore the fact that Mtskheta is an ensemble of religious monuments within a very sensitive historical environment. Taking into account that the most sensitive areas of Mtskheta’s landscape are being compromised by new buildings, they recommend that the World Heritage Committee retains the Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Georgia) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies suggest that the World Heritage Committee might recommend that the State Party develop a national law for all World Heritage properties in Georgia, as well as initiate a “5C strategic World Heritage country programme” proposal. This could serve as a consolidated basis for cooperation within the country to enhance the implementation of its commitments within the framework of the World Heritage Convention and take into account the need for a more sustainable longer-term approach. It could be developed on the basis of the analysis of the challenges, corrective measures and the national priorities and strategies as set out in the Periodic Report.

Draft Decision: 36 COM 7A.31
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 35 COM 7A.30 adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),
3. Acknowledges the detailed information provided by the State Party on the progress made to implement the corrective measures and urges the State Party to continue its work on all the corrective measures adopted at its 34th session (Seville, 2010);
4. Also urges the State Party to define the buffer zone of the property to allow a clear understanding of the archaeological and visually sensitive areas around the property and to submit this proposal as a minor boundary modification of the property;
5. Expresses its great concern regarding developments being undertaken by the State Party in the vicinity of the property within the area of the river Mtkvari bank, between the Svctitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari church, and further urges the State Party to halt developments within the property and its setting until details of proposed developments, together with Heritage Impact Assessments, have been submitted to the World Heritage Centre, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, for review and comments by the Advisory Bodies before any irreversible decisions have been made;
6. Notes that the State Party intends to complete a Management Plan for the property by the end of 2012, requests the State Party to ensure that this Plan recognises that the property is an ensemble of religious monuments within a very sensitive historical environment, and also requests it to submit the draft of this plan to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
7. Invites the State Party to consider the development of a national law for all World Heritage properties in Georgia;
8. Further requests the State Party, in coordination with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, to develop a “5C strategic World Heritage country programme” proposal, based on the State Programme for the protection of Georgian cultural heritage, to serve as a consolidated basis for cooperation within the State Party to enhance the implementation of its commitments within the framework of the World Heritage Convention;
9. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013;
10. Decides to retain the Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Georgia) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
Adopted, see page whc.unesco.org/4103

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