Decision 28 COM 15B.76

28 COM 15B.76

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Congratulates the Maltese Government for the exemplary way by which it consulted with all parties concerned with the proposal to build a landfill for domestic waste near the Megalithic Temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra and acknowledges with appreciation the quality of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA);

2. Welcomes the decision by the Maltese Government to build the proposed landfill at an alternative site;

3. Regrets that few improvements have taken place to increase the protection and interpretation of the site, which is still affected by illegal constructions and vandalism;

4. Notes the information on the "archeological park" project including the construction of shelters over two of the temples and urges the State Party to submit the details of the project to the World Heritage Centre at the latest by 1 February 2005, in accordance with paragraph 56 of the Operational Guidelines (2002);

5. Further urges the State Party not to commence any construction before consideration by the Committee;

6. Recommends that a management plan be developed for all the seven temples that form the property, and not only for the two being affected by the plans of the Heritage Park;

7. Requests the State Party to provide an updated report to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2005 on the project for a Heritage Park and the development of a management plan, in order that the World Heritage Committee can examine the state of conservation of the property at its 29th session in 2005.