Decision 43 COM 7A.33

Ancient City of Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic) (C 20bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decisions 42 COM 7A.32 and 42 COM 7A.36, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
3. Taking into account Decision 43 COM 7A.37, on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic,
4. Welcomes the establishment of a center for the traditional production of building materials and the setting up of licensing regulations as ways to encourage the use of traditional construction techniques and materials for restoration works and address cumulative threats to authenticity of the property; and also welcomes the proposed development of a digital tour guide for local communities and a ‘digital footprint’ project to raise awareness of the history of the property, if the necessary technical and financial resources can be found;
5. Encourages the State Party to continue its efforts in implementing the Committee’s decisions, despite a difficult technical and financial situation, particularly in addressing the need to gather historical archives and documentation, and in the efforts to use traditional materials and techniques in restoration works;
6. Also encourages the State Party to continue implementing the recommendations of the 2016 UNESCO First Aid Support Meeting and the 2016 UNESCO Technical Assistance Workshop, to pursue its efforts towards the development of a Management Plan for the property and consider applying for an International Assistance request to this end;
7. Reiterates its request to the State Party:
   1. To analyze the reasons behind the previously reported fires, to continue implementing all necessary risk-prevention and mitigation actions outlined in the Emergency Response Plan of December 2013, and to report back to the World Heritage Centre on the progress made thereon,
   2. To submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by ICOMOS, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, information on any proposed reconstruction and restoration projects within the property, and on all damaged structures, including the revised detailed designs and work so far undertaken for the restoration of the “Ottoman Bank”;
8. Calls on all UNESCO Member States to support emergency safeguarding and recovery measures, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
9. Also reiterates its request that the invited joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission be carried out as soon as the security situation allows, in order to proceed with a comprehensive assessment of the state of conservation of the property and identify measures needed to reverse the decay, ensuring the conservation and protection of the property;
10. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2020, 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 44th session in 2020;
11. Decides to retain Ancient City of Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.