Decision 43 COM 7A.18

Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq) (C 1130)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 42 COM 7A.18, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
3. Notes with appreciation the State Party’s efforts to keep the World Heritage Centre informed about the situation on the ground;
4. Expresses its grave concern about the state of conservation of the property following the armed conflict and intentional destructive acts;
5. Notes with concern the continuing lack of detailed information on the state of conservation of the property;
6. Reiterates its request to the State Party to submit any and all preliminary assessments of the property it has undertaken;
7. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to undertake a full and detailed assessment of the damages incurred, and the potential risks to the property, as soon as security conditions permit and prior to any action on the ground, with the responsible authorities working in close collaboration with the UNESCO Office for Iraq, and to submit this assessment for review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
8. Further reiterates its request to the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission, once security conditions permit, to assist in assessing the damage, preparatory to the development of a comprehensive Conservation Plan;
9. Reiterates furthermore its request to the State Party to revisit the Response Plan for the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage in Liberated Areas of Iraq (2017-2019), with the objective of finding ways forward to start implementing the priority actions and securing the needed resources as urgently as possible;
10. Reiterates its appeal to all Member States of UNESCO to cooperate in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage coming from Iraq as per the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2199 of February 2015, 2253 of December 2015 and 2347 of March 2017;
11. Calls again on all Member States of UNESCO to support emergency safeguarding measures, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
12. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2020, 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 44th session in 2020;
13. Decides to retain Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.