Syrians have universal heritage (2)

Ktafan says UNESCO is providing technical assistance to these sites, including experts studies to address risk causes or to take action to save these sites; as well as to train local professionals in techniques of conservation, restoration, and provision of equipment to protect the site or restored it.

Financial funding also supports the national efforts to put guidelines of the cultural heritage, and on the other hand the nomination of cultural heritage sites on the world heritage list for the maintenance and conservation of these sites. The matter that continuously enhance public awareness of their value and originality and the importance of conservation which is considered as a national responsibility.

The architect Lina explained that to be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria. These criteria are explained in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention which, besides the text of the Convention, is the main working tool on World Heritage. The criteria are regularly revised by the Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage concept itself.

Selection criteria:

(i)   to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;

(ii)  to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;

(iii) to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;

(iv) to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;

(v)  to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;

(vi)  to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);

(vii) to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;

(viii) to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;

(ix) to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;

(x) to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

“The role of the governorate in ameliorating archaeological sites listed on World Heritage List” as Tarek Nahass, administrator of Old Damascus in Damascus governorate said “is to work on minding infrastructure in cooperation with the protection commission, which has specialists from the ministry of tourism, Antiquities directorate, and the Engineers Association. We are as well currently studying a project to beautify Bab Touma facades by making them homogeneous as the Medhat Basha souk facades.” Nahass added that “There is also in Damascus governorate, a commission for the protection of antiquarian houses.  however our main aim in the governorate is to prevent violations against these houses such as the use of non-conventional materials in these houses for restoration works. We are also working to identify the necessary licenses to restaurants, as we are keen to keep the city clean all the time.”

Haifaa Mafalani