A Clarification by the High Commission for Erbil Citadel Revitalization
The statement released by the HCECR is as follows:
A number of media outlets have reported over the last few days that the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has refused to include the Erbil Citadel on the World Heritage List due to a number of factors. Hence the HCECR has decided to present some clarifications on this matter.
Firstly, it is important to note that ICOMOS is not the organization authorized to make such decisions, as ICOMOS is an independent and advisory body to the World Heritage Committee. The decision is in the hands of the World Heritage Committee and not ICOMOS.
The HCECR would like to point out that a representative from ICOMOS had visited the Kurdistan Region in order to assess restoration works, and it is for this purpose that the representative prepared a report and presented it to both the World Heritage Committee and to the HCECR. The report contains several observations and alludes to a number of points that the HCECR and the relevant authorities in the Kurdistan Region should consider and of which such authorities should be aware. The restoration work needs to continue, and in addition the observations made in the ICOMOS report should be addressed. This would make it more likely that the Erbil Citadel would be added to the World Heritage List. Further, it is not necessary that this goal is achieved before the meeting of the World Heritage Committee scheduled to take place in June of this year – the issues may be addressed in future meetings held by the Committee.
It should be noted that ICOMOS praised the work of HCECR and evaluated its role positively, also commending the KRG’s role in supporting the HCECR.
