Decision 44 COM 7A.18

Ancient City of Aleppo (Syrian Arab Republic) (C 21)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decisions 43 COM 7A.31 and 43 COM 7A.37, adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
3. Taking into account Decision 44 COM 7A.24, on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic,
4. Notes the efforts mobilized by the State Party for the recovery of the Ancient City of Aleppo since December 2016, commending the commitment of the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM), its partners and the local community, encourages DGAM to continue its efforts in implementing actions outlined in the “Vision and Planning Framework” for the property, in particular the development of a Reconstruction and Recovery Master Plan and an updated Management Plan for the property, and recommends that these should be developed in line with the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (UNESCO, 2011) and be carried out in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
5. Reiterates its request that the State Party undertake a detailed risk assessment for structures most at risk, and undertake necessary emergency measures in order to enhance the safety of inhabitants;
6. Noting the good quality of the restoration works undertaken at Suq al-Saqatiyya, invites the State Party and its partners to consider these works as a successful model for other restoration works;
7. Reminds the State Party of its obligation to submit information on major projects to the World Heritage Centre, in compliance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, as occurred for the restoration of the minaret of the Great Mosque and the building code submitted for the evaluation of the Advisory Bodies;
8. Calls again on all States Parties to support the emergency safeguarding and recovery measures outlined in the “Vision and Planning Framework” for the property, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
9. Reiterates the need for the invited joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to be carried out as soon as the situation allows, in order to proceed with a comprehensive assessment of the state of conservation of the property;
10. Also invites the State Party, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to facilitate the elaboration of a set of corrective measures and a Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) at the earliest opportunity;
11. Welcomes the regulation issued for the creation of a buffer zone, and also encourages the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2022, a proposal for a minor boundary modification, in accordance with Paragraphs 163-165 of the Operational Guidelines, for review by ICOMOS;
12. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, 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 45th session;
13. Decides to retain the Ancient City of Aleppo (Syrian Arab Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.