Butrint

• Difficult financial situation
• Need for monitoring of the situation at the site

The 25th session of the Bureau requested the State Party to submit a report by 15 September 2001 on its proposal for the implementation of recommendations contained in the report of the joint mission UNESCO-ICOMOS-Butrint Foundation (19-24 April 2001). A report was received from the Ministry of Culture on 22 February 2002. This report informed that the setting and character of the landscape of the World Heritage site of Butrint is of great importance and that the Ministry of Culture, through its local office in Saranda, the Butrint Administration and Coordination Office (BAC), and in cooperation with the World Bank, have completed the law for managing the site. This law is to be passed in the Albanian Parliament in the near future and will prevent any development within the Park's territory and its boundaries. The report also underlined that the BAC Office has been very active in preventing any illegal activities within the Park boundaries and its vicinity. Furthermore, the report informed that efforts are underway, in cooperation with the World Bank, to enlist the Butrint National Park in the Ramsar List as a site of significant environmental importance.

Concerning the archaeological resources, the report stressed that the BAC Office is continuing its efforts to coordinate the work of the Institute of Archaeology and of the Butrint Foundation and that a computer based Geographical Information System is being developed and would serve towards better management of the archaeological resources. A management plan is being developed to pursue a combination of archaeological research, archaeological excavations and follow-up of conservation actions. With regard to the standing structures, there has been considerable progress but there is still much to be done. The BAC Office is now working on developing a full annual maintenance programme. The conservation and display of the mosaics remains as a priority.

Furthermore, the report underlined that security has improved with the introduction of the Park Ranger Programme. The Butrint Rangers have completed a comprehensive training programme offered by the International Ranger Federation and a grant by the World Bank. The reopening of the Butrint Museum is the responsibility of the Institute of Archaeology. Security issues for the Museum would be addressed through a comprehensive management plan. However, the report stressed that little progress has been made in the efforts to reopen the Museum. Finally, and concerning the site presentation and interpretation, the report informed that publications for visitor information are available at the entry kiosk of the site and that the recent publication of the guidebook, by the Butrint Foundation, in both English and Albanian, improves the on-site information provided. Furthermore, Park guides are trained by the BAC Office. Contacts have also been established with schools for the effective use of the educational potential of the World Heritage site of Butrint.