Bulgarian Embassy in Paris Hosts Reception Marking End of 47th Session of UNESCO World Heritage Committee

Diana Dukovska, BTA special correspondent Milena Stoykova, BTA special correspondent Vanya Suharova

A formal reception at the Bulgarian Embassy in Paris marks the conclusion of the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, Paris, July 15, 2025 (BTA Photo/Milena Stoykova)

Paris,

16.07.2025 00:38

(BTA)

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UNESCO 2025

A formal reception at the Bulgarian Embassy in Paris on Tuesday marked the conclusion of the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

Attendees included Prof. Nikolay Nenov, Chair of the 47th session, Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

Bulgaria's Ambassador in Paris, Radka Balabanova, said: "This session reminded us once again that the world heritage is a shared responsibility. Over the past few days, we engaged in deep and productive discussions and reviewed a record number of dossiers. We inscribed 28 new sites on the World Heritage List and decided to remove one African site from the List of World Heritage in Danger, as it is no longer at risk. This is a remarkable outcome, an inspiration and a true testament to the achievements of the World Heritage Convention."

She noted that Bulgaria, which marks 70 years of UNESCO membership in 2026, remains fully committed to the global efforts to safeguard the heritage of humanity.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said she saw how deeply committed Bulgaria is to UNESCO's work. She thanked the financial institutions which spared no effort to provide the conditions for the discussions at UNESCO Headquarters.

At the end of the official part of the event, the Epodai pipe ensemble from the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv performed traditional songs from the Rhodopi Mountains.

The 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held under the presidency of Bulgaria, runs until July 16 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. As part of the session, Bulgaria presented elements of its cultural and natural heritage.

During its 47th session, the World Heritage Committee decided to inscribe 26 new sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List - 21 cultural, four natural and one mixed - bringing the total number of listed properties to 1,248 (972 cultural, 325 natural and 41 mixed). The Committee also approved extensions to two existing properties. Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone each had a site inscribed for the first time, marking their debut on the World Heritage List. The Committee reviewed the state of conservation of 248 inscribed properties. Three African sites were removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger: the Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar), Abu Mena (Egypt) and the Old Town of Ghadames (Libya).

UNESCO was founded on November 16, 1945. Bulgaria became a member on May 17, 1956, the same year its National Commission for UNESCO was established. The Commission coordinates activities between Bulgarian institutions and UNESCO.

UNESCO's World Heritage Committee is one of the two governing bodies responsible for implementing the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. It is composed of representatives from 21 countries elected from among the 196 States Parties to the Convention.

/DD/