Decision 41 COM 7A.46

Ancient City of Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic) (C 20bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decisions 38 COM 7A.12, 39 COM 7A.36, and 40 COM 7A.17, adopted at its 38th (Doha, 2014), 39th (Bonn, 2015) and 40th (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016) sessions respectively,
3. Taking into account Decision 41 COM 7A.50 on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic,
4. Expresses its concern over the damage regularly caused by fire within the property;
5. Regrets that the restoration works undertaken in al-Asrooniya neighbourhood are not based on historical archives and documentation, and do not use traditional materials, thus impacting the Outstanding Universal Value of the property;
6. Reiterates the urgency to plan and implement all necessary risk-prevention and mitigation actions outlined in the Emergency Response Plan of December 2013, and to report back to the World Heritage Centre on the progress made thereon;
7. Reiterates its request to the State Party to:
   1. Limit conservation or restoration works to first aid interventions until the security situation improves,
   2. Take immediate action to save the remaining structures through adequate shoring and temporary consolidation measures,
   3. Submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by ICOMOS, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, any reconstruction and restoration project within property, in particular al-Asrooniya neighbourhood including the “Ottoman Bank”, prior to the commencement of any works;
8. Encourages the State Party to also implement the recommendations of the First Aid Support Meeting and the Technical Assistance Workshop, in particular:
   1. Reinforce coordination for the protection of the property, including through joint committees for disaster risk management and for the restoration of the “Ottoman Bank”,
   2. Develop an integrated management plan,
   3. Create a data bank of documentation and archives to ensure that restoration works are carried out in conformity with the original buildings design,
   4. Ensure the revision of the cultural heritage law to avoid the gradual loss of authenticity in the property,
   5. Ensure the strict use of traditional construction techniques and materials for the restoration works within the property,
   6. Carry out a sound structural diagnosis and implement emergency measures at the Ottoman Bank as a priority, in particular emergency consolidation and the protection of the building from weathering;
9. Urges all parties associated with the situation in Syria to refrain from any action that could cause further damage to the Ancient City of Damascus, including preventing the use of cultural property and prominent architectural elements, in particular the Suleymaniye and Omayyad Mosque Minarets, for military purposes;
10. Calls on all UNESCO Member States to support emergency safeguarding measures, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
11. Requests the State Party to invite of a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to proceed to a comprehensive assessment of the state of conservation of the property and identify measures needed to reverse the decay and ensure the conservation and protection of the property, as soon as the security situation allows;
12. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2018, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018;
13. Decides to retain the Ancient City of Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.