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State of Conservation (SOC)

Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (2005)

Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0 (from2003-2003)
Total Amount Ap proved: 50,000USD

2003   Emergency assistance to prepare an urgent nomination of the ...   50,000  USD
Missions**

November 2002.

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Partial flooding and seepage due to a dam building project (interrupted for the time being);
  • Fragile mud brick structures;
  • Absence of a comprehensive conservation and management plan.
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Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

As reported at the 28th session of the Committee (Suzhou, 2004), a Preliminary work plan for an assessment mission to the site was prepared in order to develop an emergency conservation plan as well as the basis for a management plan of the site. However, the implementation of this activity had to be delayed, due to the current security constraints. The amount remaining under the International Assistance Request was returned to the World Heritage Fund at the end of the previous biennium, the building of the dam which had justified the emergency request being halted. In October 2004, the State Party submitted a new request, in the form of a letter in Arabic, which did not correspond either to the standard format or to activities foreseen under technical cooperation in the Operational Guidelines. A new Assistance Request is under preparation by the State Party.

UNESCO has developed a large programme for cultural heritage preservation in Iraq, to which the World Heritage Centre contributes partially. Thanks to a donation from the Czech Republic to the World Heritage Fund, US$ 30,000 were allocated to the purchase of photogrammetric equipment. In addition, a US$ 100,000 contribution from the Nordic World Heritage Foundation allowed the World Heritage Centre to organize a training workshop in Amman, Jordan, in September 2004, in order to introduce ten Iraqi specialists to the concepts and procedures of the Convention. Two additional workshops are due to take place in 2005 to develop a complete Nomination File for the site of Samarra.

At the time of drafting this document, no report from the State Party has yet been received.

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

29COM7A.18
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 28 COM 15A.18 taken at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),

3. Notes with concern the security situation in Iraq which is causing delays in the implementation of activities for the conservation of Ashur;

4. Encourages the State Party of Iraq to establish, as early as possible, a site management coordination unit, which will be responsible for any action to be undertaken on the property;

5. Requests the State Party to prepare a conservation and management plan for the property, possibly through an international assistance request and, should the situation allow, with international expertise;

6. Requests the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS to continue assisting the responsible Iraqi authorities;

7. Further requests the State Party to report, by 1 February 2006, on the progress made in implementing the above recommendations, for examination by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);

8. Decides to retain Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Draft Decision: 29 COM 7A.18

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 28 COM 15A.18 taken at its 28th sessions (Suzhou, 2004),

3. Notes with concern the security situation in Iraq; which is notablys causing delays in the implementation of activities for the conservation of Ashur;

4. Encourages the State Party to establish, as early as possible, a site management coordination unit, which will be responsible for any action to be undertaken on the property;

5. Requests the State Party to prepare a Conservation and Management Plan for the site, possibly through an International Assistance Request, and, should the situation permit, with international expertise;

6. Requests the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS to continue assisting the responsible Iraqi authorities;

7. Further requests the State Party to report, by 1 February 2006, on the progress made in implementing the above recommendations, for examination by the Committee at its 30th session in 2006 ;

8. Decides to retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat)
State Party:
Iraq
Date of Inscription: 2003
Nomination records (Year): 2002
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)(iv)
Danger List: Yes
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
Threats*
  • Water infrastructure
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:
    Fragile mud brick structures
Documents
WHC-05/29.COM/7A
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1247
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 2003
Threats to the Site:

Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at the 27th session of the World Heritage Committee simultaneously with its inscription on the World Heritage List. When the property was nominated before the conflict, a large dam project threatened the site, which would have been partially flooded by a reservoir. While the dam project has been suspended by the current administration, the Committee considered that its possible future construction, as well as the present lack of adequate protection, justified the inscription of the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.


* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.