Shielding Heritage from War

Published on 17 March 2011

Author(s): ENPI/Regional Project News

Type:  News

Focus group to identify key stakeholders, such as technicians, policymakers, local authorities, military and urban planners, that need to be involved in their effort to secure better protection for heritage sites in the event of hostilities

As part of the EU-funded War Free World Heritage Listed Cities project, the Municipality of Mtskheta, Georgia, in cooperation with the EU Delegation to Georgia, is hosting a focus group on 25 March to identify key stakeholders, such as technicians, policymakers, local authorities, military and urban planners, that need to be involved in their effort to secure better protection for heritage sites in the event of hostilities.

A press release said the towns of Byblos (Lebanon) and Mtskheta (Georgia), where the project seeks to implement its actions, were both situated in critical areas. Already UNESCO World Heritage Listed (WHL) sites, moves are underway to qualify both sites for enhanced protection status.

The Municipalities of Jbail-Byblos and Mtskheta, well aware of the economic as well as the cultural value of their sites - tourism contributes significantly to their local economies - will work with these stakeholders and with project partners WATCH (Italy) and OCRD (Georgia) to develop a strategy to meet the stringent criteria for inclusion as WHL Sites under Enhanced Protection.

War Free World Heritage Listed Cities is part of the EU-funded CIUDADprogramme, which runs from 2009 to 2012 and co-finances 21 local grant projects in the Neighbourhood's South and East. The projects reflect the overall objective of CIUDAD and in particular the following themes:

• Environmental Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
• Sustainable Economic development and reduction of social disparities and
• Good governance and sustainable urban development planning.

Read more

Press release

CIUDAD - ‘War Free World Heritage Listed Cities’ factsheet

CIUDAD website

CIUDAD – fiche and news

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