Recommendations of the Technical Meeting on the Recovery of the World Heritage Site of Palmyra

The “Technical Meeting on the Recovery of the World Heritage Site of Palmyra” took place on 18 December 2019 at UNESCO’s Headquarters, with the aim of reflecting on, and discussing the recovery of Palmyra, as a World Heritage property. 

The meeting followed the latest World Heritage Committee Decisions, requesting to limit restoration works to first aid interventions until the security situation has improved, therefore allowing for detailed studies and extensive fieldwork, as well as discussions on defining optimal approaches.

The meeting, which was attended by 34 international experts, focused on issues of reconstruction and recovery of the property. At the end of the meeting, a number of recommendations were agreed upon, including the necessity of emergency interventions at specific monuments, and highlighting that plans for any reconstruction work should not be implemented in the immediate phase. A detailed assessment of the damaged structures individually, as well as the site as a whole, would need to be carried out first, while observing International charters and recommendations. Rehabilitating the site museum has been noted as a priority, integrating a holistic approach in the interpretation of all values associated with the site.

The complete text of the recommendations can be downloaded below.