Draft Decision: 28 COM 15B.79
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Acknowledges with appreciation the extensive information received from the State Party;
2. Recalls that in the nomination file, the World Heritage boundaries of the property are identified as the lands occupied by the Route itself and a stretch of 30 metres at each side, which is enlarged in towns and villages;
3. Further recalls that the nomination file included an inventory of protected monuments, areas of special natural value and villages, such as Artieda, which will be flooded if the barrage is enlarged;
4. Expresses its concern about the way the enlargement of the barrage will affect the authenticity of the World Heritage property, as it would physically destroy part of it as it was identified at the time of its inscription;
5. Notes that provisions have been taken to preserve, by re-location, specific monuments listed in the inventory;
6. Further recalls Article 11 of the Convention and paragraphs 81-82 of the Operational Guidelines;
7. Urges the State Party to reconsider the enlargement of the barrage, and that if it decides that there are overwhelming socio-economic reasons for its enlargement, to submit a request for a change of boundaries to the Committee for removal of this stretch of the Route for this reason only and recalls that if the State Party decides to propose a change of the boundaries of the World Heritage property, an evaluation of the proposal has to be carried out;
8. Requests a report on the situation to be submitted to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2005 in order that the World Heritage Committee can examine the state of conservation of the property at its 29th session in 2005.