Decision 46 COM 7B.16

Historic Areas of Istanbul (Türkiye) (C 356bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7B.Add.4,
2. Recalling Decisions 42 COM 7B.31, 44 COM 7B.58 and 45 COM 7B.58 adopted at its 42nd (Manama, 2018), extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) and extended 45th (Riyadh, 2023) sessions respectively,
3. Welcomes the joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property which took place in June 2024 and notes that its conclusions and recommendations will be presented at its 47th session;
4. Also welcomes the commencement of the updating of the Management Plan for the property, which will include the definition of attributes that convey the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and a strategic plan for the conservation of the timber structures, and requests the State Party to submit the complete draft Management Plan to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies prior to its formal adoption;
5. Regrets the information reported on projects planned or already implemented for Hagia Sophia, such as the new ticket office and an entrance tunnel and ramps, without technical details or Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) having been submitted to the World Heritage Centre prior to the works, and also requests the State Party to submit the Hagia Sophia Visitor Management Plan to the World Heritage Centre in a timely manner for review by the Advisory Bodies ;
6. Also regrets the lack of information provided by the State Party prior to the change of status of the Chora Museum, despite numerous requests to comply with paragraphs 172 and 174 of the Operational Guidelines, notes however that updated information on the restoration work at the Chora has recently been submitted to the World Heritage Centre and is currently under review by the Advisory Bodies, but nevertheless further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre technical details and information on the additional building constructed and a comprehensive account of completed, ongoing and proposed works and projects at the Chora;
7. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to implement fully the recommendations of the UNESCO Advisory missions of October 2020 and January/February 2021, including the organisation of an international seminar on the conservation of mosaics and frescoes, the preparation of Master Plans for the areas of Hagia Sophia and the Chora, taking into account the potential impact that changes at Hagia Sophia and Chora may have on the OUV of the property;
8. Further regrets that a comprehensive roadmap, including short and long-term strategies covering all types of projects which may have an impact on the OUV of the property, has not been submitted to the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies despite its previous requests, and urges the State Party to develop such a roadmap, in close cooperation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, before any irreversible decisions are taken, and to submit it to the World Heritage Centre no later than 1 February 2025;
9. Also notes the submission of HIAs for the Yedikule Fortress restoration and proposed Kazlıçeşme Yacht Marina, and further reiterates its previous request to the State Party to revise the Kazlıçeşme Yacht Marina project in accordance with the recommendations of the ICOMOS Technical Review, including three-dimensional modelling and preparation of a final HIA in accordance with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, and to submit the revised HIA for the Kazlıçeşme Yacht Marina to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies before the project is implemented;
10. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit the HIAs under preparation for the Yenikapı Cruise Port and the Basketball Development Centre, and details of current projects at the Grand Bazaar, the Land Walls, the Yedikule Gas House and the Landwalls Nation Garden, as well information about planned excavations at Sultanahmet Archaeopark, Yenikapı, Saraçhane and Theodosius Harbour, to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, and also reiterates its previous request to the State Party to undertake HIAs for all large-scale infrastructure and restoration projects and to submit them to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies before irreversible decisions are taken;
11. Further notes the large number of infrastructure and other development/reconstruction/ restoration projects proposed for the property and further regrets that, despite the Committee’s repeated requests, completed project documentation and associated HIAs continue not to be submitted to the World Heritage Centre in a timely manner and in accordance with paragraphs 118bis and 172 of the Operational Guidelines, and therefore also urges the State Party to conduct HIAs in accordance with Paragraph 118bis of the Operational Guidelines and based on the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context for all proposed projects that may have an impact on the OUV of the property;
12. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2025, 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 47th session.