Safeguarding cultural heritage of Jerusalem – UNESCO decision

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Item 10 of the agenda

JERUSALEM AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 34 C/RESOLUTION 47

AND 179 EX/DECISION 9

ADDENDUM

1. On the basis of the information provided in document 180 EX/10, the Members of the Executive Board may wish to adopt the following draft decision:

The Executive Board,

1. Recalling 34 C/Resolution 47 and 179 EX/Decision 9, as well as the provisions of the four Geneva Conventions (1949), the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954) and the related Protocols, and the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972), the inscription of the Old City of Jerusalem on the World Heritage List and on the List of World Heritage in Danger, and the recommendations, resolutions and decisions of UNESCO on the protection of cultural heritage,

2. Affirming that nothing in the present decision, which is aimed at the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, shall in any way affect the relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, in particular the relevant Security Council resolutions on the legal status of Jerusalem,

3. Having examined document 180 EX/10 and Addendum,

4. Expresses its sincere thanks to the Director-General for his sustained efforts for the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, in compliance with the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Conference and of the Executive Board, and reiterates its concern as to the obstacles, practices and actions, unilateral or otherwise, affecting the preservation of the distinctive character of the Old City of Jerusalem;

5. Invites the Director-General to pursue his efforts with the concerned parties for the safeguarding of the outstanding universal value of the Old City of Jerusalem;

6. Thanks the Jordanian authorities for having accepted to bear the cost of the storage fees to facilitate the delivery of the equipment for the manuscripts conservation laboratory in al-Ashrafīya Madrasa;

7. Welcomes the action taken by the Israeli authorities to facilitate the delivery of the equipment for the manuscripts conservation laboratory in al-Ashrafīya Madrasa;

8. Thanks the donor community for its contributions to the implementation of conservation, restoration and training activities in the Old City of Jerusalem, and encourages UNESCO Member States to contribute to the implementation of activities foreseen in the Action Plan for the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, notably through extrabudgetary resources;

9. Decides to include this item on the agenda of the 181st session of the Executive Board and invites the Director-General to submit to it a progress report thereon.