Conservation of the mural paintings of Jebel Barkal and the sites of the Napatean region

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Noting the Bureau's recommendations 28 BUR 8.4 and 28 BUR 8.5,

2. Does not approve the request presented by Ghana: "Workshop on History, Slavery, Religion, and Culture in Ghana, linked with conservation and protection of the World Heritage";

3. Approves the request presented by Sudan: "Conservation of the mural painting of Gebel Barkal and the properties of the Napatan Region" for an amount of US$ 38,900;

4. Approves also the request presented by Botswana: "International Training Workshop for decision-makers on the World Heritage from Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands", for an amount of US$ 48,645, of which US$ 15,329 from the cultural heritage and US$ 33,316 from the natural heritage budget for training assistance;

5. Recommends to the State Party of Botswana, in the implementation of the above activity and in close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the  concerned Advisory Bodies, to give adequate consideration to natural heritage values and to adopt a methodology, which takes into consideration the concepts emerging from the current revision of the Operational Guidelines and the approaches to sustaining Outstanding Universal Value on World Heritage properties, which could lead to a much wider relevance and application.

28 BUR 8.4

The World Heritage Bureau, 

1. Considering that only US$ 54,229 are available for training activities on cultural heritage under the 2004 budget, while US$ 84,880 are available for training activities on natural heritage, 
2. Taking into account that training assistance requests amounting to US$ 175,165 have been submitted for approval, of which US$126,520 for cultural heritage and US$ 48,645 for mixed heritage, 
3. Considering further that approving any request pertaining to the Bureau (i.e. under US$ 30,000) would automatically imply that funding for other requests for higher amounts pertaining to the Committee would be exhausted, 
4. Keeping in mind paragraphs 113 and 114 of the Operational Guidelines setting the order of priorities and factors governing in principle the decisions of the Committee in granting assistance under the Convention, 
5. Having examined the merit of all training assistance requests, both under and above US$ 30,000, 
6. Recommends to the Committee to adopt the following decision:

"The World Heritage Committee,