Decision 28 COM 15B.74

Historic Centre of Riga (Latvia)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Noting the information provided by the Latvian authorities on the construction project within the buffer zone,

2. Acknowledges the efforts undertaken by national authorities to implement the Law on the Preservation and Protection of Riga’s Historical Centre 2003;

3. Regrets that the recommendations of the Committee have not been respected (Decision 27 COM 7B.69);

4. Encourages the State Party to finalize and implement the preservation and development plan for the Historic Centre of Riga, in close co-operation with the City authorities, and to ensure an overall vision for the site, including the town planning strategy and a comprehensive urban management;

5. Requests the State Party to carefully review all projects foreseen in the area and its buffer zone, including conducting a visual impact study, and to provide an up-date report to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2005 including a confirmation that any new building will fully respect the visual integrity of the Historical Centre of Riga and the historical watercourses will be preserved as open public space without any new buildings for examination by the Committee at its 29th session in 2005.