Decision 44 COM 7A.8

Samarra Archaeological City (Iraq) (C 276 rev)

Decision: 44 COM 7A.8

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decisions 43 COM 7A.20 and 44 COM 7A.21, adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
3. Taking into account Decision 44 COM 7A.9, on the World Heritage properties of Iraq,
4. Expresses again its concern about the condition of the property and the lack comprehensive information on its state of conservation, and reiterates its request to the State Party to submit documentation of the damage done to the property as a whole and its affected monuments, for review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
5. Also reiterates its request to the State Party that a full and comprehensive assessment be carried out as soon as security conditions permit and before any remedial actions are undertaken, with the aim of identifying any necessary emergency stabilization work and establishing a road map for longer-term conservation and management actions;
6. Further reiterates its previous request that interventions be addressed within the framework of the overall assessment of damage and risks and a comprehensive conservation plan prepared in full consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
7. Reminds the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for evaluation by the Advisory Bodies, detailed information of any future works that may affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
8. Requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission, once security conditions permit, to assist in assessing damage at the property, preparatory to the development of a comprehensive conservation plan, the identification of corrective measures, and the development of a Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR);
9. Reiterates its appeal to all States Parties 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;
10. Calls again on all States Parties to support emergency safeguarding measures, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
11. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, 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 45th session;
12. Decides to retain Samarra Archaeological City (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.