PHNOM PENH, June 17 – The Unesco World Heritage Committee (WHC) would debate about world heritage in danger in Mali and elsewhere besides examining the inscription of new sites on the World Heritage list, China’s Xinhua news agency reported, quoting the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco)’s Director General Irina Bokova (photo) as saying on Monday.
“Apart from examining the inscription of about 30 new sites onto the UNESCO’s World Heritage list, the WHC, comprised of members from 21 countries, will exchange and debate about world heritage sites in danger,” she told in a press conference on the second day of the 37th session of the WHC at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.
Among the sites in danger which would be discussed were Timbuktu and Tombof Askia in Mali, which were listed in the World Heritage list in danger last year, she said.
At the opening of the 37th session of the WHC on Sunday, Bokova also called for solidarity and political will in order to protect cultural heritage damaged by armed conflict.
“We need the same leadership today to protect cultural heritage under attack in the region and across the globe in Mali, Syria, Central African Republic and elsewhere,” she said.
Among the heritage sites under threat in Syria are the ancient cities of Aleppo and Damascus.
Speaking in a press briefing on Monday, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister Sok An, chairman of the 37th session of the WHC said that Cambodia was very proud to host the session and believed that the meeting, which would last until June 27, would be run smoothly and professionally.
He said the meeting was attended by about 1,465 delegates from 128 countries, and some 560 local and foreign journalists.
– BERNAMA
