UNESCO calls for immediate reporting on the project being implemented in historical part of Bukhara

The government has been advised to refrain from implementing new major projects in the area without consultation and to promptly inform the World Heritage Centre with technical documents if any are planned.

UNESCO has called for the Uzbekistan government to immediately report on the new project planned in the buffer zone of Bukhara's historical part. This statement was provided to Kun.uz by the committee at UNESCO. The head of the Cultural Heritage Department in the Bukhara region said that the relevant documents are being prepared to be sent to UNESCO.

So far, no application has been submitted by Uzbekistan to UNESCO for the approval of the construction of the "Eternal Bukhara" cultural-ethnographic park in the buffer zone of Bukhara's historical center.

The organization informed Kun.uz that the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee in September 2023 welcomed “the advice from the State Party (Uzbek authorities) that the moratorium on the development and new work has been extended to include the buffer zone of the property and will remain in place until the integrated Master Plan and Management Plan are finalized, submitted to the World Heritage Centre and positively reviewed.”

Therefore, the Uzbek government is expected not to implement new major projects and if it intends to do so, highly advised to notify the World Heritage Centre immediately with technical documentation.

Since September 2023, no information about new major projects has been submitted to UNESCO by Uzbek officials, as mentioned in the World Heritage Committee's statement.

According to Shokhabbos Sharafiddinov, head of the Bukhara region Cultural Heritage Department speaking to Kun.uz, the process of sending the project documents to UNESCO is ongoing.

"The process of submitting the project documents for the tourist center, namely the ethnographic park project, to UNESCO is in progress. Necessary documents are being prepared, including the cultural heritage impact assessment and the complete project version. Once prepared by the project organization, these documents will be reviewed and submitted to UNESCO for feedback.

It was in 1993 that Bukhara's corresponding area was included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. No construction, renovation, or beautification works that are not agreed with UNESCO will be carried out in the area," stated Sharafiddinov.