13 new sites added to UNESCO list

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee’s 40th session held in Istanbul has concluded with some 15 properties being evaluated and 13 of them registered to the World Heritage List, including the Turkish archeological site of Ani located in the eastern province of Kars, near the Armenian border. 

“As of now a total of 15 properties were evaluated and 13 of these were registered in the World Heritage List. I want to express that we have been extremely happy [to be] part of this [and] that our Seven-Doored City of Ani archeological site has been registered to the World Heritage List. With this opportunity, I want to deliver my thanks sincerely to UNESCO, committee members, the World Heritage Center and ICOMOS [the International Council on Monuments and Sites],” said Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Nabi Avcı, as he delivered a speech at the closing ceremony of the session.  

UNESCO’s 40th session was held in Istanbul with the attendance of some 108 member countries, consulting organs, guests of the host country, media members and NGO representatives.

July/18/2016

UNESCO World Heritage Committee to meet in Istanbul

The 40th meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will be held in Istanbul between July 10 and 20. 

At the meeting the committee will decide on which cultural and natural heritage to include on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Turkey is also on the application list this year, for the ancient ruins of Ani in eastern Anatolia on the border with Armenia.

The meeting will be hosted by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, the UNESCO Turkey National Committee, the Istanbul Governor’s Office and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

The opening of the meeting will be held on July 10 by the Culture and Tourism Minister Nabi Avcı and UNESCO General Director Irina Bokova. On the second day of the meeting, Avcı will also attend a meeting on the protection of Syrian cultural heritage.

A total of 33 applications to join the list will be discussed during the Istanbul meeting.