The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 36 COM 7A.20, adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
3. Notes with alarm the devastating effect the de-watering has had on the archaeological remains, and urges the State Party to undertake conservation condition surveys as soon as possible and establish a prioritized treatment programme that could be implemented urgently;
4. Also notes the need to delay immediate de-watering of the remaining archaeological areas until adequate stabilisation methodologies have been devised and in the meantime to consider burying existing remains on the basis of a detailed re-burial strategy;
5. Expresses its concern at the inappropriate dismantling and rebuilding carried out at the Great Basilica and its impact on authenticity, and also urges the State Party not to undertake further reconstruction;
6. Requests the State Party to demolish the inappropriate structures that have been built around parts of the monuments (apart from the temporary wooden church and pilgrim rest house to be considered at a later stage) as soon as possible and put in place a moratorium on all construction within the property;
7. Recommends that the State Party develops a visitor strategy, within the framework of a Management Plan, that allows for a coordinated approach to all visitations and to the provision of information and interpretation for both visitors to the archaeological site and for pilgrims;
8. Notes the progress that has been made by the State Party in recent years, in particular regarding the de-watering of the site, and also requests work on basic surveys and conservation plans or on the Management Plan, all of which are part of the corrective measures;
9. Encourages the State Party to continue the work in order that an agreed action plan can be put in place based on the attributes of the property’s Outstanding Universal Value;
10. Further requests the State Party, on the basis of surveys, to submit a logical boundary for the property and an appropriate buffer zone as a minor boundary modification;
11. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit, by 1 February 2014, a detailed progress report on the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014; and if the Desired state of conservation is met, the Committee may remove the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger in accordance with paragraph 191.b of the Operational Guidelines;
12. Decides to retain Abu Mena (Egypt) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.