Decision - 29COM 8B.48 - Nominations of Cultural Properties to the World Heritage List (Museum-City of Gjirokastra)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Documents WHC-05/29.COM/8B, WHC-05/29.COM/8B.Add 2 and WHC-05/29.COM/INF.8B.1,

2. Recalling the decision adopted by the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee at its 15th session (UNESCO, 1991) and the report of the rapporteur SC-91/CONF.001/2,

3. Inscribes the Museum-City of Gjirokastra (Albania) on the World Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria (iii) and (iv):

Criterion (iii): The old city of Gjirokastra is an exceptional testimony to a long-lasting, and almost disappeared society and life-style, influenced by the culture and tradition of Islam in the Ottoman period.

Criterion (iv): The historic town of Gjirokastra is a rare example of a wellpreserved Ottoman town, built by farmers of large estates, around the 13thcentury citadel. The architecture is characterized by the construction of a type of tower house (Turkish ‘kule'), of which Gjirokastra represents a series of outstanding examples.

4. Requests the State Party of Albania to draw up a detailed report on the conservation of the property, especially on the implementation of measures to counteract illegal construction and changes in the urban and landscape context.