Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures

a) Serious impact of a large-scale restoration project;

b) Impact of urban landscaping programme on the authenticity and integrity of the property;

c) Detrimental impact of new roads;

d) Demolition of traditional urban houses.

In its report, received by the World Heritage Centre on 18 February 2008, the State Party confirmed its commitment to further develop the management plan, clarify road schemes, and develop zoning arrangements taking into account the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee and the 2007 mission. The report states that a Coordinating Committee for the property was established in 2001 as an “Inter Departmental Commission on Coordination of Safeguarding and Utilization of Cultural Monuments of Samarkand”.

The UNESCO / ICOMOS mission of December 2007 noted the following:

a) Strengthened coordination:

The recommendations of previous missions have been acted upon and there is better coordination between the various bodies responsible for the overall urban areas. Nevertheless, the mission considered that there was a need for more formal coordination and a strengthening of the overall decision-making system. It noted, in particular, that theInter Departmental Commission for Samarkand should be strengthened, and that international experts should be consulted for essential advice on principles of restoration, documentation of historic properties, and rehabilitation of historic quarters.

b) New developments:

The mission noted that recent constructions on the periphery of the new road (between the historic areas of Afrosiab and Timurid) consisting of a shopping centre, restaurant, bus stop and gas station are inappropriate for the locality and have a negative impact on Shakhi-Zinda. The mission underlined the urgent need for zoning regulations to be established to respect the sensitive areas of the city.

c) Proposed Reconstruction projects:

The mission also expressed concern over a proposed large-scale reconstruction project for the Timurid walls and the proposed development of a hotel next to the walls. It was considered that these would be very harmful for the general view of the Timurid part of the town, and would not conform to international conservation principles. A more sensitive development is needed for this area, based on archaeological investigation and the removal of harmful modern buildings.

d) Traditional housing:

The mission reinforced the need to make progress with documenting the traditional housing in the residential areas around the main monuments and to stop any further demolition until survey work has been undertaken as a basis for the development of an integrated conservation strategy.

e) Road schemes:

Concerning the roads scheme, the mission was advised by the State Party that the new Urban Plan for Development of Samarkand city 2004 –2025 (General Plan), is being revised, based on the recommendations of the World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS mission undertaken in October 2006. After the approval of this General Plan a more detailed plan will then be developed, and this will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre. The timescale for the development of the new road schemes has not yet been fixed. However the mission was told that it will be included in the first stage of realization of the draft management plan: 2007- 2010.

The World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS welcome the progress that has been made, but note however that there is a need to keep up the momentum to address the issues highlighted by the mission, in order to ensure that within a reasonable timescale a clear approach is put in place for the overall management, conservation and development of the property. The State Party should submit all major project proposals to the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS for consideration, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.