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.

For reference, preparations to demolish the center of Bukhara city have begun – establishments there have been relocated elsewhere.

Last year, the Minister of Construction, Botir Zokirov, stated that "not a single nail would be driven" without UNESCO's consent.

We remind you that for the project, the administrative center of Bukhara city, situated near the historic center of Bukhara, has been chosen. Here, in the area of 32.6 hectares at the intersection of Jalol Ikromiy, Hamza, and Ibrohim Muminov streets, government buildings, the central stadium, and other various structures will be demolished.

The public became aware of the tourism complex project in January 2023. At the time, the demolition of Bukhara's central stadium in particular sparked public protests, which in turn prompted UNESCO to call for the refraining from large-scale construction within the buffer zone of the historic city. Following this, the provincial administration announced that "other suitable land sites will be selected" for the project.

A year later, in January 2024, the governor of Bukhara region, Botir Zaripov, announced that the project was named "Eternal Bukhara Cultural-Ethnographic Park" and it had been decided to construct it at the previously planned location.

According to the regional administration, the park will include an ethnographic museum, historical neighborhoods typical for the Bukhara oasis, tea houses, national cuisine restaurants, traditional drainage systems - canals and ponds, artisan shops, as well as workshops for jewelry, embroidery, quilting, wood carving, blacksmithing, pottery, painting, and knife making.

The chief architect of the region, Zuhridin Muhiddinov, states that the main buildings in this complex will consist of four 5-star hotels built to world standards.

Prepared by Madina Ochilova
Camera Operator - Mirvohid Mirrahimov
Video Editor - Muhiddin Kurbonov