1. Having examined the technical cooperation assistance request made by India regarding an improved geographic information system (GIS) for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), as presented in Documents WHC-04/7EXT.COM/6 and WHC-04/7EXT.COM/6 Add,
2. Noting that, in accordance with Decision 28 COM 10A, four requests for technical cooperation will be submitted to the Chairperson/Committee in 2005, for a total amount of US$ 104,915,
3. Considering that only an amount of US$ 160,000 is available for cultural properties under technical cooperation assistance in the 2005 budget of the World Heritage Fund,
4. Taking into account the recommendation of the Bureau and the comments presented by ICOMOS in Document WHC -04/7EXT.COM/6Add., as well as the amount of international assistance provided to the DHR in recent years (US$ 58,000),
5. Decides not to approve this request for technical cooperation.

28 BUR 8.1  

The World Heritage Bureau, 

1. Decides to approve this preparatory assistance request for natural heritage for US$ 20,100 under the 2004 budget.

Tajikistan: Preparation of the nomination dossier of the Tajik National Park (TNP) and preparation of the Tentative lists of natural and mixed heritage of Central Asian States Parties through regional consultation

28 BUR 8.2
The World Heritage Bureau,

1. Decides to approve this preparatory assistance request for natural heritage for US$ 20,760 under the 2004 budget.

 The World Heritage Bureau, 

1. Noting that no funds are available in 2004 for consideration of technical cooperation requests for cultural properties;
2. Recommends that the Committee do not approve technical cooperation requests in advance on the 2005 budget; 
3. Decides to approve, in principle, the request presented by Iraq: "Equipment for training on photogrammetry techniques for Iraqi experts", for an amount of US$ 30,000, on the understanding that an earmarked donation shall be made from a State Party to the World Heritage Fund in 2004 to support its implementation and expressing its concern regarding the fact that it had been asked to approve a contribution to an on-going programme which it had not approved, requests that similar cases should be avoided in the future; 
4. Decides that the following requests:

be submitted again in 2005 for decision by the Chairperson or the Bureau, in accordance with the Operational Guidelines in force at that time, provided the relevant States Parties have paid their dues to the World Heritage Fund as at 31 December 2004.

5.   Recommends to the Committee that the following request:

- Bangladesh: "Study of the drainage problems and monitoring of the internal moisture conditions of the monuments of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur"

be submitted again in 2005 for decision by the Committee, provided the relevant State Party has paid its dues to the World Heritage Fund as at 31 December 2004.

The World Heritage Bureau, 

1. Considering that only US$ 54,229 are available for training activities on cultural heritage under the 2004 budget, while US$ 84,880 are available for training activities on natural heritage, 
2. Taking into account that training assistance requests amounting to US$ 175,165 have been submitted for approval, of which US$126,520 for cultural heritage and US$ 48,645 for mixed heritage, 
3. Considering further that approving any request pertaining to the Bureau (i.e. under US$ 30,000) would automatically imply that funding for other requests for higher amounts pertaining to the Committee would be exhausted, 
4. Keeping in mind paragraphs 113 and 114 of the Operational Guidelines setting the order of priorities and factors governing in principle the decisions of the Committee in granting assistance under the Convention, 
5. Having examined the merit of all training assistance requests, both under and above US$ 30,000, 
6. Recommends to the Committee to adopt the following decision:

"The World Heritage Committee,

The World Heritage Bureau, 

1. Approves the request presented by Argentina: "Ninth International Seminar of Forum UNESCO - University and Heritage: “Heritage and Management Centre and Periphery” " for the amount of US$ 25,000; 
2. Authorizes the Secretariat to make the necessary adjustments transferring from the budgets relative to Promotional and Educational International Assistance and World Heritage Education the amounts of US$10,000 and US$15,000 respectively to the pertaining item.

1. Noting that no funds are available in 2004 for consideration of technical
co-operation requests for cultural properties,

2. Also noting that the Bureau did not approve technical co-operation requests in advance on the 2005 budget (Decision 28 BUR 8.3),

3. Agreeing with the Bureau's recommendation not to approve requests in advance on the 2005 budget as it did at its last session in 2003 with regard to the use of the 2004 budget,

4. Decides that the following request:
Bangladesh : Study of the problems and monitoring of the internal moisture conditions of the monuments of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur, be submitted again in 2005 for decision by the Committee, in accordance with the Operational Guidelines in force at that time, provided that the State Party concerned has paid its contributions to the World Heritage Fund as at 31 December 2004.

1. Noting the Bureau's recommendations 28 BUR 8.4 and 28 BUR 8.5,

2. Does not approve the request presented by Ghana: "Workshop on History, Slavery, Religion, and Culture in Ghana, linked with conservation and protection of the World Heritage";

3. Approves the request presented by Sudan: "Conservation of the mural painting of Gebel Barkal and the properties of the Napatan Region" for an amount of US$ 38,900;

4. Approves also the request presented by Botswana: "International Training Workshop for decision-makers on the World Heritage from Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands", for an amount of US$ 48,645, of which US$ 15,329 from the cultural heritage and US$ 33,316 from the natural heritage budget for training assistance;

5. Recommends to the State Party of Botswana, in the implementation of the above activity and in close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the  concerned Advisory Bodies, to give adequate consideration to natural heritage values and to adopt a methodology, which takes into consideration the concepts emerging from the current revision of the Operational Guidelines and the approaches to sustaining Outstanding Universal Value on World Heritage properties, which could lead to a much wider relevance and application.

1. Takes note of the excellent Progress Report on the Evaluation of Emergency Assistance;

2. Requests the World Heritage Centre to:

a) ensure that, exceptionally, if resources from the World Heritage Fund for emergency assistance are insufficient, properties already inscribed on the World Heritage List receive such assistance on a priority basis,

b) give priority to properties that are on the List of World Heritage in Danger,

c) verify that Emergency Assistance will be used only to address emergency situations strictly relating to the conservation of the World Heritage Site,

d) ensure that decisions on Emergency Assistance are taken in a timely way and that funds are transferred promptly. In the case of funds transferred to a Regional Office, ensure that the office disburses funds in accordance with the Emergency Assistance plan,

e) prepare further concrete proposals on the basis of the recommendations made in the evaluation report, notably in regard to the Emergency Assistance application process, selection process, implementation of assistance, monitoring and reporting requirements to be presented to
the Committee at its 29th session in 2005,

f) develop in the coming year an evaluation of the other components of the International Assistance to be presented to the Committee at its 29th session in 2005,

g) prepare on the basis of the evaluation of Emergency Assistance and the evaluation mentioned in paragraph e) a set of proposals in order to provide a comprehensive framework for optimisation of International  Assistance with special attention to definition of the role and  responsibilities of the World Heritage Committee, Advisory Bodies, World Heritage Centre, Regional Offices, and States Parties so as to ensure adequate transparency, monitoring, and accountability. This would be presented for further discussion to the Committee at its 30th session in 2006 ;

3. Invites the World Heritage Centre, in co-operation with the States Parties, Advisory Bodies, and other international agencies and non-governmental organisations concerned by emergency interventions, to prepare a riskpreparedness
strategy to be presented to the Committee at its 30th session in 2006 ;

4. Recommends that States Parties include risk preparedness as an element in their World Heritage Site Management plans and training strategies.

 The Bureau of the World Heritage Committee, 

1. Having examined the preparatory assistance request made by South Africa regarding the preparation of a nomination file for Richtersveld mixed heritage, as presented in Document WHC-04/7 EXT.COM/BUR.2;
2. Decides to approve this preparatory assistance request for mixed heritage for US$ 20,000 under the 2004 budget.

The World Heritage Bureau,

1. Having examined the preparatory assistance request made by Sudan regarding the preparation of a nomination file for the property 'Island of Meroe, as presented in Document WHC-04/7 EXT.COM/BUR.2;
2. Decides to approve this preparatory assistance request for cultural heritage for US$ 20,000 under the 2004 budget.

The World Heritage Bureau,

1. Having examined the technical cooperation assistance request made by India regarding an improved geographic information system (GIS) for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), as presented in Documents WHC-04/7EXT.COM/6 and WHC-04/7EXT.COM/6 Add,
2. Noting that in accordance with Decision 28 COM 10A, four requests for technical cooperation will be submitted to the Chairperson / Committee in 2005 for a total amount US$ 104,915;
3. Considering that only an amount of US$ 160,000 is available for cultural properties under technical cooperation assistance in the 2005 budget;
4. Taking into account ICOMOS' comments as well as the amount of international assistance provided to the DHR in recent years (US$ 58,000);
5. Recommends to the Committee not to approve this request for technical cooperation.

The Bureau of the World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined the technical cooperation assistance request made jointly by Mongolia and the Russian Federation regarding the elaboration of a Joint Mongolian-Russian Federation Site Management Plan for the Uvs Nuur Basin, as presented in Document WHC-04/7 EXT.COM/BUR.2,
2. Decides to approve this technical cooperation assistance request for natural heritage for US$ 26,000 under the 2004 budget.