The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Documents WHC-05/29.COM/11C.1 and WHC-05/ 29.COM/11C.2.Rev,
2. Recalling its decisions 7 EXT.COM 5C and 7 EXT.COM 7.2 adopted as its 7th Extraordinary Session (UNESCO, 2004) to support the African initiative to hold a meeting of African experts on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and on the State of Conservation of World Heritage sites in Africa in March 2005 in Cape Town, South Africa, and to participate in the next summit of the African Union through an exhibit by the World Heritage Centre on cultural and natural World Heritage in Africa during the next summit of the African Union,
3. Welcomes with appreciation the Africa Position Paper included in Document WHC-05/29.COM/11C.2.Rev, which addresses challenges facing Africa's World Heritage properties and the possibility of setting up an African World Heritage Fund, in accordance with the outcomes of the meetings held in Somerset West, South Africa, from 15 to 18 March 2005;
4. Expresses its appreciation to the State Party of South Africa for hosting the above meetings;
5. Emphasizes its commitment to the development of strategies to conserve and protect Africa's World Heritage properties, including human resources development;
6. Recalling the Periodic Report for the African region, adopted at its 26th session (Budapest, 2002) by Decision 26 COM 20, which calls inter alia for the establishment of an African Heritage Fund,
7. Commends the African position paper and supports the principles, objectives and recommendations enshrined therein which constitutes a major step and strategic document in implementing the periodic reporting exercise for the African region and which is also at the basis of the activities of the Committee;
8. Requests the Director of the World Heritage Centre to transmit the African position paper to the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention at its 15th session (2005);
9. Supports the establishment of the African World Heritage Fund and requests the Director of the World Heritage Centre to report to the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006) on the progress made towards the establishment of such a Fund;
10. Invites States Parties to the Convention to make voluntary contributions to the Fund;
11. Also invites the African World Heritage Fund, when established, to report to the World Heritage Committee on a regular basis on its activities and discuss with the Committee its orientation and strategy;
12. Further invites the African States Parties to present the 10-year Action Plan mentioned in Document WHC-05/29.COM/11C.2Rev to the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);
13. Reaffirms its commitment to implement its Decision 7 EXT.COM 7.2 and the recommendations set forth in the Africa Position Paper.