Decision 46 COM 7A.32

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

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.45 and 45 COM 7A.46 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
3. Reiterates its appeal to all Member States of UNESCO to cooperate in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage coming from Syria as per the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2199 of February 2015, and 2347 of March 2017;
4. Commending the exemplary background documentation and impact analysis submitted for the project on restoration and reconstruction of the Triumphal Arch, which provides a model for other restoration works at the property and other archaeological sites in Syria, welcomes the progress made towards the implementation of the project;
5. Taking note of the first phase of a restoration project at the Theatre, which includes emergency measures, documentation and stability studies, requests the State Party to provide further information on the outcomes of this phase as well as the proposed restoration methodology for the second phase that clearly follows the model developed for the Triumphal Arch prior to commencing implementation work, in compliance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
6. Encourages the State Party to continue to submit 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;
7. Also taking note of the cooperation established to put in place a management system to control urban and landscape protection regulations, the expansion of the contemporary city, and tourism infrastructure development, as well as strict traffic management measures within and around the site, recalls that the elaboration of the Conservation Management Plan, whose preparation was previously reported, remains crucial to inform restoration decisions and ensure coordination among stakeholders;
8. Takes note with satisfaction of the works undertaken for the elaboration of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and a set of correctives measures, and adopts the following DSOCR, corrective measures and timeframe:
   1. Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR):
      1. The property as a whole is in a safe and secure state,
      2. The attributes of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) that have been damaged have been preliminary assessed, documented and secured,
      3. Methodologies have been defined, approved and implemented for the manner in which work on documentation, conservation, restoration and reconstruction is agreed upon and taken forward, and on-site work is initiated,
      4. Appropriate management is in place at the local, regional and national level,
   2. Corrective measures:
      1. Improving accessibility and security, by removal of land mines, and addressing identified threats, to allow safe passage of people in the property,
      2. Protecting monuments/cultural artifacts from direct threats,
      3. Undertaking urgent emergency measures at monuments damaged by the conflict and at further risk, through preliminary assessment, documentation and stabilization,
      4. Establishing, approving and implementing methodologies for documentation, assessment, conservation, restoration and reconstruction, that are all based on the methodology implemented for the Triumphal Arch,
      5. Developing conservation plans for damaged attributes, and defining priorities for their implementation,
      6. Recovery of objects and statuary damaged during the conflict,
      7. Reinstating the relationship between the City of Palmyra (Tadmor) with the property and surroundings, and rehabilitation of the oasis,
      8. Setting up of a management system, including a management plan, and facilities to ensure the adequate management of the property and its buffer zone, including through the integration of the City of Palmyra (Tadmor) and the oasis,
   3. Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures by end of 2027;
9. Calls upon the international community to support the implementation of the above-mentioned corrective measures;
10. 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;
11. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2025, 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 47th session;
12. Decides to retain Site of Palmyra (Syrian Arab Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.