DUSHANBE, 27.07.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – During its 44th session, the World Heritage Committee chaired online by the Chinese Fuzhou, listed seven sites as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, according to UNESCO’s press release.

Four sites are natural, including Colchis rainforests and wetlands (Georgia), Amami Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, northern Okinawa and Iriomote Island (Japan), Getball, Tidal Plains (Republic of Korea) and the forest complex Kaeng Krachan (Thailand).

Three of the new sites, including one transnational site, have been listed for their cultural value: the Arslantepe mound (Turkey), the Dutch water defense line, the expansion of the Amsterdam Defense Line site (Netherlands), and the Colony of Mercy transnational site ( Belgium and the Netherlands).

The session of the World Heritage Committee will continue to review the sites until July 28.

The 44th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which was to be held in the summer of 2020 in the Chinese city of Fuzhou, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite this, countries continue to apply for the inclusion of their properties on the World Heritage List.

Tajikistan has proposed two sites for inclusion, -the most ancient settlement of Sarazm and the Pamir Mountains. The first one is assessed according to the cultural criterion, the second according to the natural one.

Another 16 sites are candidates for the inclusion in this list, 11 of which have a cultural criterion, and 5 natural. Among them are the mausoleums of Amir Khamza, Khoja Mashhad, Khoja Nakshiron, Muhammad Bashoro, the ancient settlements of Panjikent, Takhti Sangin, Boytudashti, Shahriston, Hulbuk, Ajinateppa, monuments of the Silk Road in Tajikistan, natural objects — Fann Mountains, nature reserves Tigrovaya Balka, Dashti Jum, and Zorkul.

In addition to material objects, UNESCO also has a list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Memory of the World program. The list includes Shashmakom music, Navruz holiday, Oshi Palav dish, Chakan embroidery art. The Memory of the World project includes the manuscripts of Kulliyot by Ubaid Zokoni and Gazaliyot by Hofiz.