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       <title>World Heritage Centre News</title>
       <link>http://whc.unesco.org/</link>
       <description>All the World Heritage News</description>
	   <ttl>240</ttl>
       <language>en</language>
       <copyright>Copyright 2013 UNESCO, World Heritage Centre</copyright>
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       <lastBuildDate>Mon, 20 May 2013 02:41:49 EST</lastBuildDate>
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            <title>UNESCO, World Heritage Centre News</title>
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         <title>International experts and decision makers gathered at UNESCO adopt Action Plan for Mali&apos;s cultural heritage and manuscripts</title>
         <description><![CDATA[An Action Plan for the Rehabilitation of Cultural Heritage and the Safeguarding of Ancient Manuscripts in Mali was adopted at an international experts&amp;rsquo; meeting organized by UNESCO and France at the Organization&amp;rsquo;s Headquarters on Monday.

The Action Plan for&amp;nbsp;Mali&amp;nbsp;has three priorities: rehabilitate cultural heritage damaged during the conflict with the active participation of local communities; take measures to protect the ancient manuscripts kept in the region;  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/987</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO convenes international experts meeting for the safeguarding of Malian cultural heritage</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Director-General of UNESCO, together with the Government of France, is organizing an international Day of Solidarity for Mali on 18 February 2013 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
This day-long event will begin with an international meeting of experts, charged with developing an action plan for the rehabilitation of Mali&amp;rsquo;s cultural heritage and the safeguarding of ancient manuscripts. Experts and directors of heritage from Mali will provide an overview of Mali&amp;rsquo;s rich  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/984</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO has developed cultural heritage maps and a &quot;Heritage Passport” to help protect Mali&apos;s cultural heritage</title>
         <description><![CDATA[In response to the conflict taking place in the northern regions of Mali since April 2012, UNESCO, in collaboration with the National Directorate of Cultural Heritage in Mali and the International Centre for Earthen Architecture (CRAterre), has produced two publications on the cultural heritage of Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal. The first is an illustrated map with detailed texts in two formats (A3-doublesided and poster versions). The second publication is a brochure entitled &quot;Passeport pour le  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/981</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Director-General visits Mali with French President Fran&#xe7;ois Hollande</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova made a visit to Mali on Saturday 2 February with French President Fran&amp;ccedil;ois Hollande and the interim President of Mali Dioncounda Traor&amp;eacute;.
The main aim of the visit was to launch the process of reconstruction and safeguarding of the cultural heritage of northern Mali, including the mausoleums of Timbuktu and the city&amp;rsquo;s fabulous collection of manuscripts.&amp;nbsp;During the day, the Director-General visited Timbuktu&amp;rsquo;s World Heritage  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/979</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Sun, 03 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova in Mali to spearhead UNESCO&apos;s commitment to safeguard and rebuild Mali&apos;s extraordinary cultural heritage</title>
         <description><![CDATA[
The Director-General is visiting Mali today with French President Fran&amp;ccedil;ois Hollande, with the goal to launch the assessment of the state of Mali&amp;rsquo;s cultural heritage and manuscripts after the recent fighting and tensions and to define a plan of action with the Government of Mali that will guide UNESCO&amp;rsquo;s support to its reconstruction and safeguarding.

Irina Bokova will be meeting with the Malian authorities in Bamako and in Timbuktu to kick-start a UNESCO programme of  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/978</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Sat, 02 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO determined to help Mali restore and rebuild its cultural heritage</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova today announced that UNESCO will do everything possible to safeguard and rebuild Mali&amp;rsquo;s extraordinary cultural heritage, which she described as &amp;ldquo;a vital part of the country&amp;rsquo;s identity and history and fundamental for its future. Its restoration and reconstruction will give the people of Mali the strength and the confidence to rebuild national unity and look to the future.&amp;rdquo;
&amp;ldquo;Now that Timbuktu will return to normalcy, we must  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/977</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>The Director-General of UNESCO urges military forces to protect cultural sites in Mali during air raids and ground interventions</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova launched an appeal to all military forces in Mali: &quot;I ask all armed forces to make every effort to protect the cultural heritage of the country, which has already been severely damaged&amp;rdquo;.
Invoking the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of armed conflict and its two Protocols, Irina Bokova sent a letter to Malian and French authorities urging them to respect the Convention, and in particular Article  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/975</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Director-General condemns renewed destruction of mausoleums in Timbuktu</title>
         <description><![CDATA[
Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO today denounced the renewed destruction of mausoleums in northern Mali, near the World Heritage city of Timbuktu.
&amp;ldquo;This new act of destruction marks an escalation of violence and testifies of the deliberate will to erase symbols of a tolerant and open Islam, deeply enshrined in this region of Sahel. This is an inacceptable attack against the cultural and spiritual identity of the people&amp;rdquo;, the Director-General said. &amp;ldquo;I condemn  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/947</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 19 Oct 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Creation of a Special Fund for the Safeguarding of Mali&apos;s World Heritage sites</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Echoing the call of UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, the World Heritage Committee has established a Special Fund to support Mali&amp;rsquo;s efforts to safeguard the World Heritage properties affected by the armed conflict in the north of the country, notably the sites of Timbuktu and the Tomb of Askia in Gao.

The Fund will support the Government of Mali in assessing damage at the sites, and carrying out reconstruction and rehabilitation projects for the properties affected as soon as  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/913</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>World Heritage Committee calls for end to destruction of Mali&apos;s heritage and adopts decision for its support</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Committee on 2 July condemned the destruction of World Heritage sites in Mali and decided on measures to help the country protect its heritage. 
In its decision, the 21-member Committee responsible for implementing the World Heritage Convention, called on the Director-General of UNESCO to create a special fund to help Mali in the conservation of its cultural heritage.
The Committee also appealed on all UNESCO Member States and on the Islamic Educational, Scientific and  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/907</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO Director-General of UNESCO calls for a halt to destruction of cultural heritage site in Timbuktu</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova today expressed her distress and dismay over the destruction of three sacred tombs that are part of a World Heritage site in Timbuktu, Mali. Ms Bokova called on the belligerents to cease the destruction immediately.
&amp;ldquo;Reports that the Mausoleums of Sidi Mahmoud,&amp;nbsp; Sidi Moctar and Alpha Moya have been destroyed is extremely distressing,&amp;rdquo; the Director-General said. &amp;ldquo;There is no justification for such wanton destruction and I call on  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/901</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Sat, 30 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Heritage sites in northern Mali placed on List of World Heritage in Danger</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Committee on Thursday accepted the request of the government of Mali to place Timbuktu and the Tomb of Askia on UNESCO&amp;rsquo;s List of World Heritage in Danger. The decision aims to raise cooperation and support for the sites threatened by the armed conflict in the region.
The Committee, meeting in St Petersburg until 6 July, also asked Mali&amp;rsquo;s neighbours to do all in their power to prevent the trafficking in cultural objects from these sites. There is concern that  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/893</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Government of Mali and UNESCO move to protect Timbuktu and other heritage sites in the north of Mali</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Government of Mali and UNESCO have defined measures to safeguard World Heritage Properties in the north of Mali, including the fabled city of Timbuktu, following reports of wilful damage to mausoleums in the World Heritage site.
UNESCO&amp;rsquo;s Assistant Director-General for Africa, Lalla Aicha Ben Barka, travelled to Bamako (18 &amp;ndash; 20 May) and met senior government officials including Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra, who is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. She was accompanied  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/877</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Irina Bokova concerned about growing threats to cultural heritage in Mali</title>
         <description><![CDATA[
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova expressed her great concern following the desecration of the graves of Sidi Mahmoud in Mali by the Ansar Dine group on 4 May 2012. According to information UNESCO received, the front door of the mausoleum and its protective curtain have been burned and the people of Timbuktu who gather there every Friday for prayer were prevented from accessing it.
&quot;This desecration is a sign of a change for the worse that is deeply concerning in the attacks on Malian  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/872</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO Director-General expresses concern about the situation in Mali</title>
         <description><![CDATA[
&amp;nbsp;
In reaction to recent events in Northern Mali, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova expresses her deep concern about the possible consequences of the ongoing armed conflict on the invaluable cultural World Heritage property located in Timbuktu and Gao. The recent takeover of these cities by the Tuareg rebels could have damaging effects on the management and conservation of the three mosques and 16 mausoleums of Timbuktu, as well as the Tomb of Askia in Gao.
The Director General  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/865</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Pilgrims killed in stampede at Djingareyber Mosque in Timbuktu </title>
         <description><![CDATA[During&amp;nbsp;the evening of 25 February 2010, in Timbuktu (Mali), a stampede occurred amidst a crowd gathered outside Djingareyber Mosque. Among the crowd were&amp;nbsp;local citizens and&amp;nbsp;other pilgrims who had assembled there to pray&amp;nbsp;on the occasion of the Mawlid festival, celebrating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
This stampede caused 22 deaths and at least 45 persons were injured.
Timbuktu, a city in Mali in the middle of the Sahara Desert, was inscribed on the World Heritage  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/592</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>World Heritage Committee requests close surveillance of Bordeaux, Machu Picchu, Timbuktu and Samarkand</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Committee has asked that &amp;ldquo;reinforced monitoring&amp;rdquo; be applied to four properties on UNESCO&amp;rsquo;s World Heritage List in addition to the seven for which the surveillance mechanism is already in place.
Under the new monitoring mechanism, established by the World Heritage Committee in 2007, regular missions can be dispatched to World Heritage sites subjected to particular stress. The purpose of the monitoring mechanism, which typically involves sending experts  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/454</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Climate change threatens UNESCO World Heritage sites</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The threats posed by climate change to natural and cultural sites on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List are outlined in a new UNESCO publication, &quot;Case Studies on Climate Change and World Heritage&quot;*. The report features 26 examples - including the Tower of London, Kilimanjaro National Park and the Great Barrier Reef - case studies that are representative of the dangers faced by the 830 sites inscribed on the World Heritage List.
&quot;The international community now widely agrees that climate change  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/319</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Mali Launches Development of Timbuktu Management and Conservation Plan</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Since January 2006, the Malian authorities have been developing&amp;nbsp;a management and conservation plan for Timbuktu, a World Heritage site since 1988. In March 2006, a management committee made up of the imams of the three mosques, representatives of all local areas, tour guides, and municipal and administrative authorities was officially created by municipal decree.
The development of a management and conservation plan is the result of a decision by the World Heritage Committee to take  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/245</link>
         <author>sanogoklessigue@yahoo.fr (Mr Klessigue Sanogo, Directeur National du patrimoine Culturel ai)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 10 Apr 2006 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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