Delphi (Greece), November 17 (EFE). – The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, called for “global cooperation” to expand and protect cultural and natural heritage sites, during a conference on Thursday in an emblematic Greek city. Delphi.
On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the agreement governing this area, he stressed the need to improve the representation and accessibility of the African continent and mitigate the negative effects of mass tourism.
During the conference, which took place on Thursday and continues on Friday, many experts and representatives from around the world gathered to assess the history of the organization, as well as to present the main problems related to the preservation of monuments and landscapes. Meaning: climate change and mass tourism.
Azoulay, noting other countries where these conferences have also taken place, gave a positive assessment of the organization’s history, which has “inspired countless national laws and assistance programmes”.
However, he conceded there was still much work to be done, particularly in Africa, where half of the sites considered by UNESCO are in danger, and where 12 countries still have to register at least one heritage site. To improve its representation and accessibility, it has promised more technical support to these countries.
The Director-General of UNESCO called for continued awareness of heritage, which is why in 2025 the organization will launch an educational program in this regard in schools around the world with the aim of transforming these places into places that are known, accessible and proud of. social communication.
Another challenge that Azoulay spoke about was “protecting these places from tourist pressure”, for which he asked for the cooperation of the private sector through the “Sustainable Travel Commitment”, which has already been signed by 30,000 hotels. This includes measures such as limiting waste and single-use plastics.
In addition, it has warned of the dangers of climate change, which has already endangered one in five World Heritage Sites, and called on the organization’s member states to “uphold their responsibilities” in order to provide “solutions to the height of the mission”. “.
“We faced a warning from the future,” declared Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, referring to the fires that raged in Greece during the summer of 2021.
For this reason, he has made the protection of archaeological sites and landscapes from fire a government priority, and has used his intervention to brag about his government’s management of mass tourism.
Azoulay herself applauded one such measure, such as the creation of allowing e-tickets to better know the number of visitors.
“Often excessive tourism jeopardizes the preservation of these heritage sites, both in cities and in landscapes,” Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO Deputy Director-General for Culture, explained to EFE.
Minister of Culture and Sports Helena Lina Mendoni confirmed that the government has “developed a national plan to protect archaeological sites and monuments from climate change”.
On the other hand, Mitsotakis once again denounced the Turkish decision to convert the Hagia Sophia Church into a mosque, a measure he considered contrary to the agreement.
The event, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Sports and UNESCO, also emphasized the “urgent need” for international cooperation on the political and scientific levels.
The 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage states that certain places on the planet belong to the “common heritage of mankind” for their “outstanding universal” value, and unites the concept of nature conservation with nature conservation. resources. cultural sites. EFE
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