37 new sites to be examined for inclusion on UNESCO World Heritage list

Thirty-seven new sites from 30 countries will be examined for inclusion on the World Heritage list during the 30th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee slated for July 8-16 in the Lithuanian capital.

UNESCO officials are due to review 27 cultural sites, eight natural sites and two mixed sites, a press release from the committee said Saturday.

The list of countries that have proposed sites is Austria, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Britain, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Oman, Poland, Senegal, Spain, Syria and Tanzania.

Finland, Nepal, Serbia and Sweden are applying for the extension of sites already included.

The committee is expected to announce the results of the examination on July 12 after discussions that would be based on recommendations submitted by experts who held a conference on the subject in March.

New sites are added each year to the list by the World Heritage Committee, which consists of representatives of 21 countries and regions.

Review of the 34 sites currently on the List of World Heritage in Danger will also be on agenda.

During the session, the committee will also discuss measures to preserve heritage in view of climate change.

These sites, which face serious threat from a variety of causes, such as pollution, pillaging, war, poorly managed tourism and poaching, include the Minaret and Archaeological Vestiges of Jam in Afghanistan, Cologne Cathedral in Germany and Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

UNESCO's World Heritage list, created in 1972, has enlisted 812 sites of outstanding universal value around the world -- 628 cultural, 160 natural and 24 mixed properties in 137 nations or regions.

Source: Xinhua