Vilnius Historic Centre
Factors affecting the property in 1996*
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other Threats:
Need for a comprehensive rehabilitation programme
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Limited financial resources (issue resolved);
- Need for a comprehensive rehabilitation programme
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1996
Total amount approved : 40,000 USD
| 1996 | Financial assistance to launch the rehabilitation ... (Approved) | 25,000 USD |
| 1995 | Restoration strategy for the Old Town of Vilnius (Approved) | 15,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 1996**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1996
The elaboration of the Action Plan for the restoration and upgrading of Vilnius Old Town is progressing satisfactorily and on schedule. The consultants' final report is due late July 1996. This planning activity is conducted in collaboration with The World Bank. In May, the Lithuanian UNESCO House, located in Vilnius Old Town, will be inaugurated by the Director-General of UNESCO. An International Donors and Investors Conference, for the purpose of identifying funds for the Vilnius Old Town rehabilitation programme, is being considered by the Lithuanian Government for either early October 1996 or at a later date in 1997.
Action Required
The Bureau commended the Lithuanian authorities for their efforts, and encouraged them to pursue the promising revitalization programme for the Historic Centre of Vilnius.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1996
The rehabilitation programme of Vilnius Old Town is progressing well. In September 1996, the Danish/Scottish/Lithuanian consultant team submitted their final report on the Revitalization Strategy to the full satisfaction of the Lithuanian and City of Vilnius authorities. Steps are taking place in order to implement the consultants' recommendations, notably the establishment of a management structure for the rehabilitation programme. The World Bank has funded this planning exercise. Moreover, Denmark is also providing a substantial technical assistance to Vilnius Old Town in order to set up a computer-assisted information system for the rehabilitation of the historic center. The President of the Republic of Lithuania and the Director General of UNESCO have signed an agreement pledging to organize jointly, in the first half of 1997, an International Donors and Investors Conference for financing the rehabilitation programme. The World Bank maintains its collaboration with the World Heritage Centre in this endeavor.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 1996
The Bureau may wish to adopt the following text and transmit it to the Committee for noting:
"The Bureau thanks the Danish Government and the World Bank for their continuing support, endorses the agreement between Lithuania and UNESCO to organize the International Donors and Investors Conference in 1997, pledges its own support to this endeavor, commends the Lithuanian authorities for their efforts, and encourages them to pursue this promising rehabilitation programme of Vilnius Old Town."
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1996
20 EXT.BUR A.1.2
Annex 7-International Assistance requests approved by the Bureau-Lithuania
CULTURAL HERITAGE
A.1 TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION
A.1.2 Technical Assistance Request for Vilnius Old Town (Lithuania) (US$ 25,000 requested)
The Bureau approved an amount of US$ 25,000 to provide expert advice and logistic support to both the rehabilitation programme and the organization of the Donors' and Investors' Conference.
20 BUR IV.7
Vilnius Old Town (Lithuania)
The Bureau commended the Lithuanian authorities for their efforts, and encouraged them to pursue the promising revitalisation programme for the Historic Centre of Vilnius.
20 COM VII.D.68
SOC noted by Committee: Vilnius Old Town (Lithuania)
VII.68 Vilnius Old Town (Lithuania)
The Secretariat informed the Bureau that the rehabilitation programme of Vilnius Old Town is progressing well. In September 1996, the Danish/Scottish/Lithuanian consultant team submitted their final report on the Revitalization Strategy and steps are being taken to implement the consultants' recommendations, notably the establishment of a management structure for the rehabilitation programme. Furthermore a computer-assisted information system for the rehabilitation of the historic centre is in preparation. The President of the Republic of Lithuania and the Director-General of UNESCO have signed an agreement pledging to organize jointly, in the first half of 1997, an International Donors and Investors Conference for financing the rehabilitation programme. The World Bank maintains its collaboration with the World Heritage Centre in this endeavour.
ICCROM informed the Secretariat that it was also focusing its attention on urban conservation in particular in the Baltic Region and is planning to develop a training programme involving this Region and expressed its wish to join forces with the rehabilitation programme for Vilnius.
The Investors and Donors Conferences organized in both Nepal and Lithuania, to obtain funds for their World Heritage sites, were welcomed and it was requested that the experiences in these two countries be published to serve as an example for other States Parties and World Heritage sites.
The Bureau thanked the Danish Government, the World Bank and the City of Edinburgh for their continuing support, welcomed the agreement between Lithuania and UNESCO to organize the International Donors and Investors Conference in 1997, pledged its own support to this endeavour, commended the Lithuanian authorities for their efforts, and encouraged them to pursue this promising rehabilitation programme of Vilnius Old Town.
Lithuania
* :
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.
