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14 November 2002
Francesco
Francioni
Chair of International Law and
Vice Rector of the University of Siena
 "The
UNESCO World Heritage Convention after 30 years should not be interpreted in light
of the law that existed at the time," Francesco Francioni said Thursday.
"I argue in favour of a contextual interpretation that requires a reading
of the Convention in modern terms. For example, in 1972 non-renewable resources
were only defined as things like mineral wealth, but today we have realised that
living resources are exhaustible, like fish resources, whole species of fish that
are dying out." Water that was once taken for granted is becoming increasingly
precious, he added. Francioni also stressed the "overarching principle"
of cooperation between states, which he said "is especially important in
preventing dispersion and loss, which is today a big problem because of theft,
looting, dismembering of statues, illegal trade, illicit trade in cultural property,
and so on. … The duty to cooperate is really an obligation today. The State
Party should not see that as merely an option."
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