Decision 45 COM 7A.45

Site of Palmyra (Syrian Arab Republic) (C 23bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decisions 44 COM 7A.23 and 44 COM 7A.24 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Taking into account Decision 45 COM 7A.46 on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic,
4. Reiterates its concern regarding the extensive illegal excavations at the property, and calls upon the international community to collaborate in the sharing of inventories and documentation that could facilitate the return of looted objects;
5. Reiterates its appeal to all States Parties to cooperate in fighting against the illicit trafficking of cultural property coming from Syria as per the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2199 of February 2015, and, in engaging in the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict as per the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2347 of March 2017;
6. Welcomes the creation of an international scientific task force which sets a framework for technical support provided for the conservation and recovery of the property, the meetings organized thereafter to discuss the preliminary studies and excavation work undertaken at the Triumphal Arch, and the submission of the restoration project for technical review by the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
7. Welcomes the approval of the International Assistance request for the first stage of work for the consolidation of the portico of the Temple of Bel, as well as the proposed preparation of a Conservation Management Plan for the property;
8. Encourages the State Party to continue to transmit detailed information on any major project within the boundaries of the property and its buffer zone, before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
9. Reiterating its concern that monuments at the property remain at serious risk of further damage, exacerbated by weathering and the lack of funding availability for emergency intervention, reiterates its request to the State Party to implement fully the recommendations of the 2019 UNESCO technical meeting and to continue to seek funding to support these activities;
10. Commending the efforts undertaken, including the restoration of Afqa Spring and other interventions, which contribute to the return of inhabitants and allow for the accommodation of experts and work teams, calls again on all States Parties to support emergency safeguarding and recovery measures, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
11. Takes note with satisfaction of the work instigated by the State Party, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies towards the elaboration of a set of corrective measures and the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and encourages them to finalize the proposal for examination by the Committee at its 46th session;
12. Reiterates the need for the invited joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to be carried out as soon as the situation allows, in order to proceed with a comprehensive assessment of the state of conservation of the property;
13. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session;
14. Decides to retain Site of Palmyra (Syrian Arab Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.