Decision 43 COM 7A.36

Site of Palmyra (Syrian Arab Republic) (C 23)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decisions 42 COM 7A.35 and 42 COM 7A.36, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
3. Taking into account Decision 43 COM 7A.37, on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic,
4. Expresses its concern that the portico of the Temple of Bel and the Triumphal Arch are at risk of collapse due to the lack of funding for their emergency consolidation;
5. Takes note that the World Heritage Centre plans to organize an international meeting before the end of 2019 in order to define optimal approaches for the recovery of the site with the international community of experts;
6. Reiterates its encouragement to the State Party to implement the recommendations of the UNESCO technical assistance workshop of 2016, and in particular the emergency consolidation measures, and to seek funding in this regard, and reiterates its request to the State Party to limit restoration works to first aid interventions until detailed studies and extensive field work are conducted to assess the damage, and discussions on defining optimal restoration approaches are held with relevant experts;
7. Reminds the State Party about the need to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for examination by the Advisory Bodies, any restoration project planned at the property and before any work is implemented, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
8. Calls on all UNESCO Member States to support emergency safeguarding and recovery measures and the implementation of the Recovery Plan 2018-2020 elaborated by the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria (DGAM), including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
9. Also reiterates its request that the invited joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS / ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission should take place as soon as the situation allows, in order to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the state of conservation of the property and identify measures needed to ensure the conservation and protection of the property;
10. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2020, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 44th session in 2020;
11. Decides to retain the Site of Palmyra (Syrian Arab Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.