Butrint
Factors affecting the property in 1998*
- Financial resources
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other Threats:
Need for monitoring of the situation at the site
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Difficult financial situation
- Need for monitoring of the situation at the site
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1998
Total amount approved : 106,000 USD
| 1997 | Butrint (Approved) | 100,000 USD |
| 1996 | Technical assistance for the restoration of Butrint (Approved) | 6,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 1998**
October 1997: joint UNESCO/ICOMOS/Butrint Foundation assessment mission
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1998
Based upon the recommendations of a joint UNESCO-ICOMOS-Butrint Foundation mission to the site, the Committee at its twenty-first session decided to inscribe Butrinti on the List of World Heritage in Danger. It allocated an amount of US$ 100,000 as emergency assistance and requested the Secretariat to submit a progress report on the actions taken to the twenty-second session of the Bureau.
Consultations have been undertaken with the Government of Albania and the Butrint Foundation on the implementation of the immediate actions defined in the report of the UNESCO-ICOMOS-Butrint Foundation mission. Proposals have been received from the Albanian authorities for the implementation of immediate actions aimed at improving the security and conditions of the site. Arrangement for their implementation will be made shortly.
On 15 and 16 April 1998, a workshop took place at Butrinti on the management of the site. The workshop was organised by the Butrint Foundation and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and was financed by the Getty Grant Programme. Representatives of Albanian institutions involved in the management of the site participated along with international experts, the Butrint Foundation, UNESCO, World Bank etc. as a result, the Butrint Foundation will start preparing a management plan, a draft of which will be circulated to workshop participants. This draft plan will respond to the middle and long term actions recommended in the above-mentioned report.
Action Required
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1998
On the basis of a joint UNESCO-ICOMOS-Butrint Foundation assessment mission (October 1997), the Committee at its twenty-first session decided to inscribe Butrinti on the List of World Heritage in Danger and to allocate US$ 100,000 as emergency assistance for the implementation of remedial actions.
The Secretariat has made arrangements with the Albanian authorities (National Commission for UNESCO, Institute of Archaeology, Institute of Monuments) for the implementation of concrete actions, such as an inventory and publication of stolen archaeological objects, purchase of water pumps, improvement of fences, the construction of sanitary facilities and repairs at the museum building and the storage facilities. It has also advised the Albanian authorities on the redefinition of the boundaries of the World Heritage site and the establishment of a buffer zone.
The Butrint Foundation organized in April 1998 a workshop to define the guidelines for a master plan for Butrinti. A draft master plan is scheduled to be completed by the end of 1998. In September 1998, the Butrint Foundation also organised a workshop on the presentation and preservation of the baptistery and its extremely well preserved mosaics. The Government of Greece made a high-level expert available for the workshop. Furthermore, the Butrint Foundation reported to the Secretariat that it had assisted the Government in consultations with the European Union, the World Bank and public and private organizations, with a view to incorporate the planning for Butrinti in local and regional planning schemes.
The Government of Albania decided in August 1998, to create a Co-ordinating Office for Butrinti in the nearby town of Seranda, with a Director and staff provided by the Institute of Archaeology, Institute of Monuments and the local municipal authorities. At the date of preparation of this report, this office still had to be established. In the view of the Secretariat, this will be crucial for effective actions to be taken for the long-term management and preservation of the site.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 1998
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1998
22 BUR V.A.13
Butrinti (Albania)
The Bureau welcomed the progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures at Butrinti and the start of the process that should lead to the adoption of a management plan for the site. It recommended that due attention be given to the problem of illicit traffic of archaeological objects from Butrinti as well as the unauthorised constructions in its vicinity.
The Observer of Greece repeated the interest of her country to collaborate in and provide expert advice for the preservation of Butrinti.
The Bureau requested the Secretariat to submit a progress report to the twenty-second session of the Committee.
22 COM VII.14
SOC: Butrinti (Albania)
VII.14 Butrinti (Albania)
On the basis of a joint UNESCO-ICOMOS-Butrint Foundation assessment mission (October 1997), the Committee at its twentyfirst session decided to inscribe Butrinti on the List of World Heritage in Danger and to allocate US$ 100,000 as emergency assistance for the implementation of remedial actions.
The Secretariat reported that arrangements had been made with the Albanian authorities for the implementation of concrete actions, such as an inventory and publication of stolen archaeological objects, purchase of water pumps, improvement of fences, the construction of sanitary facilities and repairs at the museum building and the storage facilities. It also advised the Albanian authorities on the redefinition of the boundaries of the World Heritage site and the establishment of a buffer zone. The Butrint Foundation organized in April 1998 a workshop to define the guidelines for a master plan and in September 1998 on the presentation and preservation of the baptistery and its extremely well preserved mosaics. The Government of Greece made a high-level expert available for the workshop.
Consultations are underway with the European Union, The World Bank and public and private organizations, with a view to incorporate the planning for Butrinti in local and regional planning schemes.
The Government of Albania decided in August 1998 to create an Office for the Protection of the World Heritage Site of Butrinti for co-ordination and implementation of coherent actions for the site.
The Committee commended the Albanian authorities and collaborating institutions on the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the 1997 assessment mission. It congratulated the Government of Albania for the decision to create the Office for the Protection of the World Heritage Site of Butrinti and encouraged the authorities to provide it with adequate authority and human and financial resources.
The Committee confirmed that it places particular importance on the redefinition of the boundaries and buffer zone of the site, as well as the preparation of a management and master plan. The Committee requested the Secretariat to submit a report on the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the 1997 assessment mission to its twenty-third session. The Committee decided to retain Butrinti on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Committee may wish to adopt the following:
“The Committee commends the Albanian authorities and collaborating institutions on the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the 1997 assessment mission. It encourages the Government of Albania to effectively establish the Co-ordinating Office for Butrinti and to provide it with adequate authority and human and financial resources. The Committee places particular importance on the redefinition of the boundaries and buffer zone of the site, as well as the preparation of a management and master plan.
The Committee requests the Secretariat to submit a report on the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the 1997 assessment mission to its twenty-third session.
The Committee decides to retain Butrinti on the List of World Heritage in Danger.”
AlbaniaExports
* :
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.
