Decision 45 COM 7A.33

Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Libya) (C 190)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7A.11 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Notes with appreciation the efforts undertaken by the State Party to address the conservation of the property; and requests it to continue its efforts in this regard to the extent possible;
4. Also notes that the Cyrene Grand Hotel project is halted, and also requests the State Party to keep the Committee informed on the evolution of the situation at the property and to inform it, through the World Heritage Centre, on any on-going and future plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may affect the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
5. Further notes the restoration works being carried out at the theatre in the Agora area, the Severan gate area, and the sanctuary of Apollo, and further requests the State Party to provide detailed information in this regard, and to continue to consult with the World Heritage centre and ICOMOS with regard to conservation materials and techniques planned at the property before their application;
6. Reiterates its request to the State Party to provide updated information about the damage caused by pollution due to sewage disposal of Shahat city into Wadi Belghader and to seek the necessary technical and financial support to develop relevant mitigation measures;
7. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to initiate the process to develop a set of corrective measures and a timeframe for their implementation, as well as the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), in collaboration with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies;
8. Requests furthermore the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, to develop a draft Retrospective Statement of OUV, for examination by the World Heritage Committee;
9. Requests moreover the State Party to continue the close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for the elaboration of a Minor Boundary Modification proposal, and to submit it in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
10. Strongly encourages the State Party to pursue the development of the Management Plan for the property, and invites it to seek the necessary technical and financial support;
11. Notes with appreciation the invitation from the State Party for a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property, and also encourages it to take place as soon as conditions permit;
12. Continues to call for an increased mobilization by the international community to provide financial and technical support to the State Party, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
13. Reiterates its appeal to all States Parties to cooperate in fighting against the illicit trafficking of cultural property from Libya and engaging in the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict, as per the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2347 of March 2017, the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property;
14. Finally 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;
15. Decides to retain Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Libya) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.