Decision 47 COM 7A.35

Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/25/47.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 46 COM 7A.15, adopted at its 46th session (New Delhi, 2024),
3. Encourages the State Party to continue its efforts towards the preparation of the previously requested Conservation and Management Plans, as also recommended by the 2022 joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission, and reiterates its request to prepare these documents that are needed to guide the conservation and management of the property, as soon as possible in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
4. Recalling that the property has been suffering from water seepage, humidity and environmental degradation for a considerable time, also encourages the State Party to pursue consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to prioritise urgent maintenance and stabilisation actions for damaged and deteriorated components, while also recalling that emergency stabilisation work should only be undertaken in cases where collapse or further damage is imminent and according to the principle of minimal intervention;
5. Notes with appreciation the efforts undertaken by the State Party to protect the property, including the prevention of uncontrolled access and the installation of a protective fence, and requests the State Party to afford priority and allocate required resources to enable implementation of the remaining recommendations of the 2022 mission, with particular regard to:
   1. Carrying out regular maintenance activities, following testing in a pilot area and monitoring over a certain period,
   2. Submitting a detailed report on all planned and ongoing interventions carried out and their priority to the World Heritage Centre, noting that all interventions must be integrated into the comprehensive conservation plan for the property;
6. Welcomes the further advice regarding the Makhool Dam project, but also urges the State Party to provide definitive confirmation that the project is permanently cancelled;
7. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, detailed information on all future works that may have an impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
8. Further encourages the State Party to pursue the elaboration of the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, and the necessary corrective measures, in collaboration with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, and to allocate the personnel and resources required, to enable examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 48th session;
9. Encourages furthermore the State Party to continue the development of the pending boundary clarification, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre, and in conformity with Paragraphs 163-164 of the Operational Guidelines;
10. Reiterates its call upon all States Parties to support emergency safeguarding measures, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
11. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2026, 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 48th session;
12. Decides to retain Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.