Decision 28 COM 15B.79

28 COM 15B.79

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Acknowledges with appreciation the extensive information received from the State Party;

2. Recalls that in the nomination file, the World Heritage boundaries of the property are identified as the lands occupied by the Route itself and a stretch of 30 metres at each side, which is enlarged in towns and villages;

3. Further recalls that the nomination file included an inventory of protected monuments, areas of special natural value and villages, which will be flooded if the barrage is enlarged;

4. Takes note that the original enlargement of the barrage would have affected the authenticity of the World Heritage property, as it would physically destroy part of it as it was identified at the time of its inscription;

5. Also notes that provisions had been taken to preserve, by re-location, specific monuments listed in the inventory;

6. Further recalls Article 11 of the World Heritage Convention and paragraphs 81-82 of the Operational Guidelines (2002);

7. Congratulates the State Party for having reconsidered the enlargement of the barrage, reducing the flooded part of the route from 7,1 km to 3,4 km for the Southern part and from 2,3 km to 800m for the Northern part, as a result saving the main heritage elements associated with the route;

8. Requests a report on the situation, including a request for a change of boundaries, to be submitted to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2005 in order that the World Heritage Committee can examine the state of conservation of the property at its 29th session in 2005.