Date: 28/06/2005
Source: Ministry of Arts and Culture
Title: Jordan: Announcement of 29th Session of World Heritage Committee
Press Briefing by Mr Z Pallo Jordan, Minister of Arts and Culture, regarding the 29th Session of the World Heritage Committee, to be held in Durban, South Africa, 10-17 July 2005
The Programme Director, Director General
Itumeleng Mosala
Minister Pandor
The Media
All present here
It is my privilege to begin this discussion on the World Heritage Committee. Background to the 1972 World Heritage Convention
On 16 November 1972, in Paris, France, the Member States of UNESCO adopted the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. This was the culmination of a dream of bringing together the protection of natural and cultural heritage, which started in the aftermath of the devastating destruction of the First World War. The Convention merged two separate movements, the one for the protection of cultural sites, and the other for the protection of natural sites. The Convention identifies heritage as both cultural and natural, acknowledges the interaction of man with nature, and the fundamental need to maintain the balance between the two. World Heritage is our common identity, our legacy from the past, our beacons of today, and what we pass on to future generations. The 780 sites on the World Heritage List are sources of inspiration and pride. These sites are examples of heritage of outstanding universal value and belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective on which territory they are situated in. Our acknowledgement of the uniqueness of these sites is rooted in our deep respect for the diversity of conceptions of the world that it reflects. The Convention is monitored by a 21 member Committee elected by the 180 States Parties to the Convention. The Committee is responsible for the effective implementation of the Convention and the use of the world Heritage Funds. It decides on the inscription of new sites onto the List and monitors the state of conservation of all the sites. Three international scientific advisory bodies responsible for preservation of natural and cultural heritage, namely ICOMOS, ICCROM and the IUCN, assist the Committee. The 180 countries, signatories to the 1972 UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, popularly known as the World Heritage Convention, will meet at the Durban International Convention Centre in July 2005 for the 29th Session of the World Heritage Committee, to discuss the protection and conservation of the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The Session will begin on Sunday the 10th and end on the 17th of July 2005. South Africa’s participation in the Convention. South Africa ratified the Convention on the 10 July 1997, and was elected to the 21-member World Heritage Committee for a six-year term in 1999. Our term of duty will come to an end this year. Since 1997 South Africa has had 6 sites inscribed by the Committee onto the World Heritage List – Robben Island, St Lucia Wetlands, uKhahlamba /Drakensberg National Park, Mapungubwe, Sterkfontein Cradle of Humankind, and the Cape Floral Kingdom. We have proposed another site, the Vredefort Dome for consideration by the Committee this year. We also hope this year, if the Committee accepts, to add two extensions to the Sterkfontein site, namely Taung and Makapan’s Valley. South Africa’s hosting of the 29th Session in 2005
In 2000, the year after South Africa was elected onto the Committee, we were approached by a number of fellow member states, with the request that South Africa considers hosting a session of the World Heritage Committee. Until that time the Committee had never held a meeting in sub-Saharan Africa. After consultations and careful consideration, on 30th March 2004, Cabinet formally accepted and endorsed the idea of South Africa offering to host the 29th Session of the World Heritage Committee Meeting in July 2005 in Durban, and agreed that the Department of Arts and Culture will be the lead department. During the 28th Session of the Committee held in Suzhou, China, South Africa's offer was formally accepted and South Africa was elected to host the 29th Session in 2005. Extensive consultations, on both process and substance, where undertaken with the Africa Group in Paris at UNESCO, and the African Union in Addis Ababa. It was agreed during these consultations that South Africa’s hosting of the 29th Session is an overall African event providing an opportunity not only to give emphasis to pertinent issues related to the conservation of Africa’s heritage, but also an opportunity to link Africa’s cultural and natural heritage with the socio-economic development of the Continent. Preparations for the 29th Session have therefore been guided by these two objectives. The Chairperson of the AU Commission and former President of Mali, Professor A Konare, will attend the 29th Session in Durban. Indications are that President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria may also attend in his capacity as Chair of NEPAD. It is envisaged that President T Mbeki will open the meeting. The National Heritage Council has undertaken a national civil society consultation initiative that is deliberating on the role of civil society in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in South Africa. During the visit of the Director-General of UNESCO to South Africa to attend the opening of the World Heritage Committee meeting he will also be conferring the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadorship upon former President Nelson Mandela on 12 July 2005. Benefits of hosting the Committee meeting
South Africa had, from its ratification of the Convention in 1997, played a prominent role in revising the Committee and the List, in an attempt to make the World Heritage List more credible, more representative, and more relevant to the challenges of today, in particular those facing developing countries. The States Parties to the Convention jointly commit themselves to protect and cherish the world’s natural and cultural heritage, and to preserving that legacy for future generations. The prestige of having sites inscribed on the list raises awareness for heritage preservation. Sites on the list benefit from the attention and funds of the international community for its preservation. Well managed, sustainable tourism brings important funds to the site and to the local community. The involvement of local communities fosters social cohesion. Funding - The World Heritage Fund provides about US$ 4 million annually to support activities requested by Sate Parties in need of assistance. The funds come from compulsory and voluntary contributions from States Parties and private donations. The World Heritage Committee allocates the funds, according to the urgency of the requests, with priority going to the sites most under threat. The conservation and protection of world heritage sites would not be possible without the financial resources to meet the needs. Hosting the meeting for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa, raises awareness, and lends prominence and focus particularly to the issues of African World Heritage. The ultimate goal of heritage conservation is to enhance the quality of our collective existence, to ensure that future generations inherit the best examples of the diversity of our world, and that conservation and development goes hand in hand. So for us hosting the meeting in South Africa is therefore a logical culmination of all our efforts over the past 8 years since signing the Convention. Global and Continental trends informing our decision to host the Committee meeting
In 2002, as part of a periodic six-year cycle of review of world heritage in all parts of the world, an evaluation was done of the state of all World Heritage sites in Africa. This initiated a vigorous process of debate and consultation on addressing the needs and gaps specifically identified at African world heritage sites. The World Summit on Sustainable Development held in South Africa in August 2002, added impetus to the debate by recognising culture as the fourth pillar of sustainable development together with the environment, the economy and social concerns. A parallel week-long meeting of African States Parties further elaborated on the links between sustainable development and culture and heritage. Even at the World Parks Congress held in Durban in 2003, world heritage took centre stage as one of the central themes for discussion on protected areas. The African Position Paper
The Africa Group in one of its sessions during the 28th Meeting of the World Heritage Committee, in Suzhou, China, 2004, resolved to hold a Pre-Committee Meeting in March 2005 to enable Africa to speak with one voice and to prepare a Position Paper for Africa to be tabled at the 29th Committee Meeting in July 2005. Cultural and natural heritage experts from 39 African countries, who are signatories to the World Heritage Convention, met in Somerset West, Cape Town from 14 - 18 March 2005 to discuss the state of conservation of world heritage in Africa and agreed on a African Position Paper and a ten-year strategic plan of action to deal with challenges facing Africa in this regard, in preparation for the 29th session in July 2005. The Position Paper was prepared focusing on the following four themes: World Heritage,
Sustainable Development and Poverty
Eradication; Policy, Legal and Institutional
Framework for Conservation of World Heritage;
World Heritage and Resource Framework;
Management of World Heritage Sites. After the 29th Session, the African Position Paper will be tabled at the African Minister’s of Culture meeting in November 2005 for discussion where after it will be submitted to the African Union Summit on Culture in January 2006. The African World Heritage Fund
The African Position Paper and the March African Preparatory meeting also addressed the establishment of the African World Heritage Fund as proposed by the Africa Periodic Report in 2002. The Development Bank of Southern Africa has drafted a proposed legal, financial and institutional model for the Fund. South Africa, together with African and International partners will make contributions towards seed funding for establishing the Fund. In preliminary discussions several governments and international organisations have expressed interest in making a financial contribution to the Fund. Organisational and Logistical Arrangements Mr Themba Wakashe, as Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee, together with a small Secretariat has worked on the preparations for the July meeting. An interdepartmental Steering Committee has met regularly since February 2005, to discuss media and public relations; liaise with stakeholders; supervise general progress; coordinate the programmes; and supervise substance preparations and progress on the African Position Paper and the African World Heritage Fund. An Inter-Ministerial Cabinet Committee will provide political direction to preparations. An Events Management Company has been appointed to handle logistics and they have subcontracted a travel agency to handle all travel arrangements, as well as a web design company to set up an extensive website with information on travel, accommodation, registration, bookings, meeting documentation as well as on the content of the meeting. A communications company has been appointed to manage all media, public relations and marketing of the World Heritage Committee meeting in close co-operation with communication experts from Arts and Culture. Issued by: Ministry of Arts and Culture
28 June 2005
Source: Ministry of Arts and Culture
Title: Jordan: Announcement of 29th Session of World Heritage Committee
Press Briefing by Mr Z Pallo Jordan, Minister of Arts and Culture, regarding the 29th Session of the World Heritage Committee, to be held in Durban, South Africa, 10-17 July 2005
The Programme Director, Director General
Itumeleng Mosala
Minister Pandor
The Media
All present here
It is my privilege to begin this discussion on the World Heritage Committee. Background to the 1972 World Heritage Convention
On 16 November 1972, in Paris, France, the Member States of UNESCO adopted the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. This was the culmination of a dream of bringing together the protection of natural and cultural heritage, which started in the aftermath of the devastating destruction of the First World War. The Convention merged two separate movements, the one for the protection of cultural sites, and the other for the protection of natural sites. The Convention identifies heritage as both cultural and natural, acknowledges the interaction of man with nature, and the fundamental need to maintain the balance between the two. World Heritage is our common identity, our legacy from the past, our beacons of today, and what we pass on to future generations. The 780 sites on the World Heritage List are sources of inspiration and pride. These sites are examples of heritage of outstanding universal value and belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective on which territory they are situated in. Our acknowledgement of the uniqueness of these sites is rooted in our deep respect for the diversity of conceptions of the world that it reflects. The Convention is monitored by a 21 member Committee elected by the 180 States Parties to the Convention. The Committee is responsible for the effective implementation of the Convention and the use of the world Heritage Funds. It decides on the inscription of new sites onto the List and monitors the state of conservation of all the sites. Three international scientific advisory bodies responsible for preservation of natural and cultural heritage, namely ICOMOS, ICCROM and the IUCN, assist the Committee. The 180 countries, signatories to the 1972 UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, popularly known as the World Heritage Convention, will meet at the Durban International Convention Centre in July 2005 for the 29th Session of the World Heritage Committee, to discuss the protection and conservation of the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The Session will begin on Sunday the 10th and end on the 17th of July 2005. South Africa’s participation in the Convention. South Africa ratified the Convention on the 10 July 1997, and was elected to the 21-member World Heritage Committee for a six-year term in 1999. Our term of duty will come to an end this year. Since 1997 South Africa has had 6 sites inscribed by the Committee onto the World Heritage List – Robben Island, St Lucia Wetlands, uKhahlamba /Drakensberg National Park, Mapungubwe, Sterkfontein Cradle of Humankind, and the Cape Floral Kingdom. We have proposed another site, the Vredefort Dome for consideration by the Committee this year. We also hope this year, if the Committee accepts, to add two extensions to the Sterkfontein site, namely Taung and Makapan’s Valley. South Africa’s hosting of the 29th Session in 2005
In 2000, the year after South Africa was elected onto the Committee, we were approached by a number of fellow member states, with the request that South Africa considers hosting a session of the World Heritage Committee. Until that time the Committee had never held a meeting in sub-Saharan Africa. After consultations and careful consideration, on 30th March 2004, Cabinet formally accepted and endorsed the idea of South Africa offering to host the 29th Session of the World Heritage Committee Meeting in July 2005 in Durban, and agreed that the Department of Arts and Culture will be the lead department. During the 28th Session of the Committee held in Suzhou, China, South Africa's offer was formally accepted and South Africa was elected to host the 29th Session in 2005. Extensive consultations, on both process and substance, where undertaken with the Africa Group in Paris at UNESCO, and the African Union in Addis Ababa. It was agreed during these consultations that South Africa’s hosting of the 29th Session is an overall African event providing an opportunity not only to give emphasis to pertinent issues related to the conservation of Africa’s heritage, but also an opportunity to link Africa’s cultural and natural heritage with the socio-economic development of the Continent. Preparations for the 29th Session have therefore been guided by these two objectives. The Chairperson of the AU Commission and former President of Mali, Professor A Konare, will attend the 29th Session in Durban. Indications are that President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria may also attend in his capacity as Chair of NEPAD. It is envisaged that President T Mbeki will open the meeting. The National Heritage Council has undertaken a national civil society consultation initiative that is deliberating on the role of civil society in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in South Africa. During the visit of the Director-General of UNESCO to South Africa to attend the opening of the World Heritage Committee meeting he will also be conferring the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadorship upon former President Nelson Mandela on 12 July 2005. Benefits of hosting the Committee meeting
South Africa had, from its ratification of the Convention in 1997, played a prominent role in revising the Committee and the List, in an attempt to make the World Heritage List more credible, more representative, and more relevant to the challenges of today, in particular those facing developing countries. The States Parties to the Convention jointly commit themselves to protect and cherish the world’s natural and cultural heritage, and to preserving that legacy for future generations. The prestige of having sites inscribed on the list raises awareness for heritage preservation. Sites on the list benefit from the attention and funds of the international community for its preservation. Well managed, sustainable tourism brings important funds to the site and to the local community. The involvement of local communities fosters social cohesion. Funding - The World Heritage Fund provides about US$ 4 million annually to support activities requested by Sate Parties in need of assistance. The funds come from compulsory and voluntary contributions from States Parties and private donations. The World Heritage Committee allocates the funds, according to the urgency of the requests, with priority going to the sites most under threat. The conservation and protection of world heritage sites would not be possible without the financial resources to meet the needs. Hosting the meeting for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa, raises awareness, and lends prominence and focus particularly to the issues of African World Heritage. The ultimate goal of heritage conservation is to enhance the quality of our collective existence, to ensure that future generations inherit the best examples of the diversity of our world, and that conservation and development goes hand in hand. So for us hosting the meeting in South Africa is therefore a logical culmination of all our efforts over the past 8 years since signing the Convention. Global and Continental trends informing our decision to host the Committee meeting
In 2002, as part of a periodic six-year cycle of review of world heritage in all parts of the world, an evaluation was done of the state of all World Heritage sites in Africa. This initiated a vigorous process of debate and consultation on addressing the needs and gaps specifically identified at African world heritage sites. The World Summit on Sustainable Development held in South Africa in August 2002, added impetus to the debate by recognising culture as the fourth pillar of sustainable development together with the environment, the economy and social concerns. A parallel week-long meeting of African States Parties further elaborated on the links between sustainable development and culture and heritage. Even at the World Parks Congress held in Durban in 2003, world heritage took centre stage as one of the central themes for discussion on protected areas. The African Position Paper
The Africa Group in one of its sessions during the 28th Meeting of the World Heritage Committee, in Suzhou, China, 2004, resolved to hold a Pre-Committee Meeting in March 2005 to enable Africa to speak with one voice and to prepare a Position Paper for Africa to be tabled at the 29th Committee Meeting in July 2005. Cultural and natural heritage experts from 39 African countries, who are signatories to the World Heritage Convention, met in Somerset West, Cape Town from 14 - 18 March 2005 to discuss the state of conservation of world heritage in Africa and agreed on a African Position Paper and a ten-year strategic plan of action to deal with challenges facing Africa in this regard, in preparation for the 29th session in July 2005. The Position Paper was prepared focusing on the following four themes: World Heritage,
Sustainable Development and Poverty
Eradication; Policy, Legal and Institutional
Framework for Conservation of World Heritage;
World Heritage and Resource Framework;
Management of World Heritage Sites. After the 29th Session, the African Position Paper will be tabled at the African Minister’s of Culture meeting in November 2005 for discussion where after it will be submitted to the African Union Summit on Culture in January 2006. The African World Heritage Fund
The African Position Paper and the March African Preparatory meeting also addressed the establishment of the African World Heritage Fund as proposed by the Africa Periodic Report in 2002. The Development Bank of Southern Africa has drafted a proposed legal, financial and institutional model for the Fund. South Africa, together with African and International partners will make contributions towards seed funding for establishing the Fund. In preliminary discussions several governments and international organisations have expressed interest in making a financial contribution to the Fund. Organisational and Logistical Arrangements Mr Themba Wakashe, as Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee, together with a small Secretariat has worked on the preparations for the July meeting. An interdepartmental Steering Committee has met regularly since February 2005, to discuss media and public relations; liaise with stakeholders; supervise general progress; coordinate the programmes; and supervise substance preparations and progress on the African Position Paper and the African World Heritage Fund. An Inter-Ministerial Cabinet Committee will provide political direction to preparations. An Events Management Company has been appointed to handle logistics and they have subcontracted a travel agency to handle all travel arrangements, as well as a web design company to set up an extensive website with information on travel, accommodation, registration, bookings, meeting documentation as well as on the content of the meeting. A communications company has been appointed to manage all media, public relations and marketing of the World Heritage Committee meeting in close co-operation with communication experts from Arts and Culture. Issued by: Ministry of Arts and Culture
28 June 2005
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