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Decision 38 COM 7A.12
General Decision on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
  2. Recalling Decisions 35 COM 7B.58, 36 COM 7B.58, 37 COM 7B.57 and 37 COM 8C.1, adopted at its 35th (UNESCO, 2011), 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012) and 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013) sessions respectively,
  3. Deplores the conflict situation prevailing in the country, the loss of human life and the degradation of humanitarian conditions;
  4. Takes note of the report provided by the State Party regarding the state of conservation of the six Syrian World Heritage properties and the 12 sites inscribed on the Tentative List and expresses its utmost concern at the damage occurred and the threats facing these properties;
  5. Welcoming the contributions and efforts of States Parties who have already taken effective action, reiterates its appeal to the neighbouring countries and to the international community to continue cooperation in fighting against the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage coming from Syria;
  6. Urges all parties involved in the conflict in Syria to refrain from any action that would cause further damage to cultural heritage of the country and to fulfil their obligations under international law by taking all possible measures to protect such heritage, in particular the safeguarding of World Heritage properties and those included in the Tentative List;
  7. Also urges the State Party to adopt measures for the evacuation of World Heritage properties being used for military purposes;
  8. Further urges the State Party to safeguard damaged property through minimal first aid interventions, to prevent theft, further collapse and natural degradation, and refrain from undertaking conservation work until the situation allows, for the development of comprehensive conservation actions that respond to international standards;
  9. Reiterates its suggestions to the State Party to consider ratifying the Second Protocol (1999) of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Heritage during times of Armed Conflict;
  10. Commends the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM), and all the heritage professionals and the local communities in Syria who are working on monitoring and protecting cultural heritage, for their sustained efforts amidst difficult conditions;
  11. Requests the State Party to pursue the systematic documentation of all damage incurred by the World Heritage properties whenever conditions allow, to inform the development of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the properties from the List of World Heritage in Danger and the identification of corrective measures for all six properties;
  12. Recalls the request to UNESCO to establish a Special Fund for the conservation of World Heritage properties in Syria and welcomes the establishment of earmarked projects as an appropriate means to raise funds for the safeguarding of Syria’s cultural heritage;
  13. Expresses its thanks to the European Union, the Flemish Government and the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage for their financial contributions to the earmarked funds;
  14. Calls upon the international community to further support the safeguarding of Syrian cultural heritage through earmarked funds;
  15. Also requests the State Party to invite, as soon as the security conditions allow, a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission to Syria to assess the state of conservation of the properties and elaborate, in consultation with the State Party, a prioritised action plan for their recovery;
  16. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015;
  17. Decides to retain the Ancient City of Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic), on the List of World Heritage in Danger;
  18. Decides to retain the Ancient City of Bosra (Syrian Arab Republic), on the List of World Heritage in Danger;
  19. Decides to retain the Site of Palmyra (Syrian Arab Republic), on the List of World Heritage in Danger;
  20. Decides to retain the Ancient City of Aleppo (Syrian Arab Republic), on the List of World Heritage in Danger;
  21. Decides to retain the Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Syrian Arab Republic), on the List of World Heritage in Danger;
  22. Decides to retain the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Syrian Arab Republic), on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Documents
WHC-14/38.COM/16
Report of the Decisions adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session (Doha, 2014)
Context of Decision
WHC-11/35.COM/7B
WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add
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