UNESCO grants Icherisheher “enhanced protection” status
Baku, December 19 (AZERTAC). UNESCO has granted the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve the “enhanced protection” status at the eighth meeting of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict held in Paris.
"Enhanced protection" is one of the features of the 1999 Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The granting of such protection by the Committee to sites in countries that are party to the Second Protocol can be made under three conditions: that the site be of the greatest importance to humanity; that it be protected by adequate domestic legal and administrative measures recognizing its exceptional cultural and historic value and ensuring the highest level of protection; and that it not be used for military purposes or to shield military sites.
The first questionnaire on granting Icherisheher the “enhanced protection” status alongside with Shirvanshahs Palace and Maiden tower was presented to the UNESCO Committee in 2010.
Over the last years the country`s legislation has been changed in accordance with the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the Second Protocol on Committee`s recommendations, as well as internal procedures and rules on protection of the reserve have been strengthened.
Including the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve into UNESCO`s list of enhanced protected sites is an indicator of the international community`s attention to Azerbaijan`s historical heritage.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev`s state policy on protection of the country`s historical and cultural heritage, as well as the activity of first lady, president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, goodwill ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO Mehriban Aliyeva played an important role in adoption of the decision.
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