CIUDAD

Cooperation in Urban Development and Dialogue

WAR FREE WORLD HERITAGE LISTED CITIES PROJECT

Both Byblos (Lebanon) and Mtskheta (Georgia) are World Heritage Listed (WHL) cities which have recently been threatened by the ravages of war.

Despite the fact that WHL sites have a significant impact on the image of countries and local economies, few measures are put in place to safeguard them due to lack of awareness both of civil and military concerned authorities (and even less concern is shown by attacking forces) of the provisions of 1954 Hague Convention and its two Protocols. This is largely due to the lack of structures, guidelines, and capacity to develop appropriate policies, and prepare and implement risk management plans. Based on these considerations War Free World Heritage Listed Cities intends to contribute to the definition of a comprehensive urban planning strategy that is designed to create and maintain the conditions on the ground for the attainment of the Enhanced Protection status for the two WHL cities.

In this context, the Guidelines that were prepared and recently issued for the implementation of the second protocol (1999) of The Hague Convention for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflicts (1954) will be applied. A new instrument that hopefully will permit to more concretely react and contrast the threats posed by wars to Cultural Heritage, the guidelines call clearly for certain preconditions to be met before a Cultural Heritage is granted the status of enhanced protection. Two WHL cities under thereat were chosen for this project since they present perhaps the most complex pattern with the broader number of issues to be taken into account when preparing to abide with the terms and conditions posed by the Convention.

The preparation of an application and the related Risk Preparedness Plans requires the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders and highly qualified field experts (e.g.:policy makers, local authorities, authorities, the military, urban planners) with full public support.

In cooperation with partners and associates from Georgia, Italy, Lebanon and Turkey, this project aims to prepare the ground for two Enhanced Protection applications and related plans to serve as models also for other cities. The achievement of the expected project results is expected to increase the support of local and international communities in the protection of the cultural heritage legacy of the humanity.

PROJECT FACTS

NAME: WAR FREE WOLD HERITAGE LISTED CITIES

THEME:Good governance and sustainable urban planning

VALUE EUR: 540,740

APPLICANT: Council of the United Municipalities of Jbail - Byblos (Lebanon)

PARTNERS

• Board of the Municipality of Mtskheta (Georgia)

• World Association for the Protection of Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage in Times of Armed Conflict – WATCH (Italy)

ASSOCIATES

• Friends of Cultural Heritage - FOCUH (Turkey)

• Consorzio NEREA (Italy)

MAIN LOCATIONS OF ACTIVITY

• Heritage City of Byblos (Lebanon)

• Heritage City of Mtskheta (Georgia)

OBJECTIVES

• To establish good practices for Urban and Site Management in cities threatened by armed conflicts

• To promote widespread awareness of the risks facing WHL cities at threat of conflict

• To prepare candidacy applications for Byblos and Mtskheta for enhanced protection from UNESCO

RESULTS

• Risk preparedness plans for two WHL cities;

• Public awareness both in Lebanon and Georgia promoted on the importance of the two sites protection under the Hague Convention;

• Dossier needed to apply for the reinforced protection status for the two cities

LINKS:

Web Site CIUDAD Programme

Byblos

Mtskheta

Byblos

Mtskheta

© 2007-2010 All rights reserved.