Decision 42 COM 7B.56

Byblos (Lebanon) (C 295)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7B.Add,
2. Expresses concern that above-ground structures of reinforced concrete were built at the south of the property and that the State Party did not submit detailed information and design for the Diplomatic Club project, including the reburial (backfilling) of the archaeological remains to allow for the reversibility of the swimming pools;
3. Urges the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, as soon as possible and in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, a detailed document on the actions already undertaken and planned related to this project, including the architectural design documents;
4. Requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to evaluate the state of conservation of the property, to assess the Diplomatic Club project’s potential impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, to identify any modifications to this project that may be necessary to sustain the property’s OUV, authenticity and integrity, and to determine whether a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is advisable;
5. Also requests the State Party to suspend construction work on this project and not build any additional structures until the above-mentioned actions have been completed;
6. Further requests the State Party to work in close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to elaborate and submit a Minor Boundary Modification, in line with Paragraphs 107 and 164 and Annex 11 of the Operational Guidelines;
7. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2019, 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 43rd session in 2019.