site.btaUPDATED Nessebar Retains Its World Heritage Status for at Least Two More Years, UNESCO Decides in Paris

The Bulgarian Black Sea town of Nessebar will retain its current status as a World Heritage Site for at least the next two years, but the country’s authorities must fulfil a number of recommendations, BTA learned from Angel Mitkov, Attache of the Bulgarian Embassy in Paris on UNESCO. At a meeting Thursday of the 47th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Paris under the chairmanship of Bulgaria, the status of Nessebar was reviewed without debate, alongside more than 20 other Heritage sites across Europe.

Situated on a rocky peninsula in the Black Sea, the more than 3,000-year-old Ancient City of Nessebar is a unique example of a synthesis of the centuries-old human activities in the sphere of culture; it is a location where numerous civilizations have left tangible traces in single homogeneous whole, which harmoniously fit in with nature, UNESCO says on its World Heritage website. The place faces several issues threatening its preservation, including urban development pressure, lack of proper management plans, and illegal construction. UNESCO has expressed concerns about the impact of tourism, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient legal frameworks for protection.

Deputy Culture Minister Todor Chobanov said UNESCO's decision on Thursday was made possible by the efforts of all stakeholders. There is determination for decisive action in the next two years, Chobanov said in a Facebook post. "Special thanks to our colleagues who, after a long delay, worked overtime against tight deadlines, enabling us to submit an improved management plan by March 31 of this year," he said.

At UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, delegates are continuing discussions on the conservation status of 248 sites already inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, 56 of which are also on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The session will consider priority actions necessary to ensure the protection and preservation of these sites.

The 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee runs until July 16 at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris under the presidency of Bulgaria. As part of the session, Bulgaria will present elements of its cultural and natural heritage. The July issue of LIK magazine, dedicated to Bulgaria and UNESCO, was also officially presented at UNESCO.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (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.