The World Heritage Committee,
1. Recalling the decision taken at its 26th session in 2002 (26 COM 21 (b) 57) concerning the Curonian Spit,;
2. Further recalling Article 6.3 of the World Heritage Convention, which states that "each State Party to this Convention undertakes not to take any deliberate measures which might damage directly or indirectly the cultural and natural heritage... situated on the territory of other States Parties of this Convention",;
3. Urges both State Parties to work co-operatively on the project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), preparation of risk assessment measures and emergency plans;
4. Strongly advises that oil production should not commence before all the necessary research has been carried out, including a joint Lithuanian-Russian EIA process, leading to the preparation of a joint work plan for project implementation and prevention/mitigation measures to ensure the conservation of the World Heritage property;
5. Requests UNESCO to undertake a mission to both States Parties, to review the status of the EIA, to facilitate collaboration between the Russian and Lithuanian authorities, and to ensure the sharing of relevant information between these States Parties and all States Parties to the Convention in the Baltic Region;
6. Further requests a detailed report by the State Party of the Russian Federation to be prepared on the current status and future plans for the project, to be submitted to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2004 in order that the World Heritage Committee can examine the state of conservation of the property at its 28th session in 2004.