Decision - 27COM 7A.18 - Abu Mena (Egypt)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having taken note of the information provided by the World Heritage Centre on the results of the mission to the property,;

2. Commends the State Party for the efforts which are made in order to complete the programme for the protection of the area;

3. Stresses, however, that engineering solutions to the groundwater problems might prove not cost-effective and sustainable if the source of the problem is not addressed in a comprehensive and co-ordination effort;

4. Recommends to the State Party to halt the on-going engineering interventions and review Phases II and III of the project, taking into account the recommendations of the World Heritage Centre expert;

5. Recommends to the State Party to consider establishing a Cultural Heritage Co-ordination Unit within the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), which would be responsible for maintaining contacts with all institutions involved in planning activities with a potential impact on heritage, as well as for promoting pro-active assessment, planning, monitoring and management of all activities within these properties;

6. Suggests to the State Party to consider requesting international assistance for technical co-operation, if necessary, with a view to set up this Unit and develop its operational procedures;

7. Requests the State Party to submit a report to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2004, on the progress in the implementation of these recommendations for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 28th session in 2004;

8. Decides to retain the property of Abu Mena on the List of World Heritage in Danger.