Decision 45 COM 7B.49

Itchan Kala (Uzbekistan) (C 543)

Decision: 45 COM 7B.49

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add.2,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.39 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Welcomes the fact that the moratorium on demolition and rebuilding in Dishan Kala remains in place;
4. Notes that the Project of Detailed Planning of Historical Centre of Khiva (PDP) is being revised to take its recommendations into account, but that the requested phased dialogue with the Advisory Bodies has not yet taken place, and urges the State Party to initiate such a dialogue as soon as possible;
5. Also welcomes the creation of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) for cultural World Heritage properties in Uzbekistan and the organisation of its first technical session in July 2022, and emphasizes that such a mechanism should continue, with the support of its experts, advising the national authorities on the conservation of cultural heritage properties and implementation of Committee decisions and previous missions’ recommendations, as well as the recommendations of the July session of the IAC on Khiva;
6. Takes note of the details provided on projects supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), including the Integrated Cultural Heritage Framework (ICHF) to diversify tourist routes and activities, develop concept plans for infrastructure improvements in the city of Khiva, and assess links between infrastructure development and tourism growth, but expresses concern that these projects are being taken forward before the revised PDP is reviewed and approved by the Committee, and requests the State Party to ensure that full details of projects relating to the property or its immediate setting are submitted together with a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies before any commitments are made;
7. Further notes that the Management Plan is being revised and will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre, also expresses concern that, in the absence of an approved PDP and Management Plan, and without a functioning Property Management Unit and Property Manager, the property remains highly vulnerable in the context of the dynamic and fast-moving tourism and infrastructure projects supported by the EBRD, and also urges the State Party to:
   1. Make progress with the PDP and Management Plans as soon as possible to set a framework for the development of EBRD-supported projects, so that they respect the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and align with the 2011 Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL),
   2. Strengthen the management of the property by appointing a Property Manager and creating a Property Management Unit,
   3. Submit the buffer zone for review by the Advisory Bodies and subsequent approval by the Committee, in line with Decision 40 COM 8B.42;
8. Also takes notes of conservation problems relating to termite attacks on wooden beams, notably in the Friday Mosque and the Khan's Palace, and of the adverse impact of salinity in walls on ceramic tiles, and also requests the State Party to develop, on the basis of expert advice, overall conservation approaches for both these issues that include preventative and reactive measures, before specific projects are defined and submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
9. Reiterates its regret that the development of phase I of the Mevaston Hotel occurred before proposals and plans were approved and considers that the revised plans for phases I and II are acceptable provided certain detailed conditions are fulfilled, but maintains its view that this project cannot be taken as a model for development in areas of demolished mahallas;
10. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session.