Decision 45 COM 7A.27

Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq) (C 1130)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7A.6 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Taking into account Decision 45 COM 7A.30 on World Heritage properties in Iraq,
4. Commends the decision by the State Party to halt any further construction of Makhool Dam, given its potential impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, and requests the State Party to ensure the permanent cancellation or relocation of the project;
5. Notes with appreciation the efforts of the State Party in providing an informative report, with indications on the damages incurred and planned conservation works at the property, as well as in seeking partnerships and support for documentation, protection and conservation;
6. Takes note of the conclusions and recommendations of the 2022 joint World Heritage/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission and requests the State party to implement its recommendations, with particular regard to:
   1. Preparation of an overall comprehensive conservation plan for the property in full consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies,
   2. Carrying out regular maintenance activities, following testing in a pilot area and monitoring over a certain period,
   3. Submitting a detailed report on all planned and ongoing interventions carried out and their priority to the World Heritage Centre, noting that all interventions must be integrated into the comprehensive conservation plan for the property,
   4. d) Undertaking site protection measures, including the prevention of uncontrolled access, as well as installing a fence and proper signage that does not negatively impact the OUV of the property,
   5. e) Elaboration of a management system and preparation of a Management Plan that defines and protects the attributes of OUV;
7. Encourages the State Party to pursue consultations with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to prioritise urgent maintenance and stabilisation actions for damaged and deteriorated components, while recalling that emergency stabilisation work should only be undertaken in cases where collapse or further damage is imminent and according to the principle of minimal intervention, reiterates its request to the State Party that all interventions be addressed within the framework of the overall comprehensive conservation plan for the property, which should be prepared as a matter of priority;
8. Also requests the State Party to continue to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, detailed information on all future works that may have an impact on the OUV of the property, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
9. Takes note with satisfaction the cooperation undertaken by the State Party, the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS towards the development of the retrospective Statement of OUV for the property;
10. Further requests the State Party to initiate the elaboration the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, and the necessary corrective measures, in collaboration with the World Heritage Centre and advisory Bodies;
11. Reiterates its appeal to all States Parties to cooperate in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage coming from Iraq as per the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2199 of February 2015, 2253 of December 2015 and 2347 of March 2017;
12. Calls again on all Member States of UNESCO to support emergency safeguarding measures, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
13. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session;
14. Decides to retain Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.