Krakow to host UNESCO World Heritage Committee session

Krakow in south Poland will host next year's 41st sitting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, Polish UNESCO Committee secretary Slawomir Ratajski informed PAP Tuesday.

Archiwum PAP/EPA © 2016 / CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / epa05018261 View of the UNESCO's great conference room during the 38th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, 09 November 2015. The 38th session of the UNESCO General Conference runs from 03 to 18 November 2015. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON Dostawca: PAP/EPA. Archiwum PAP/EPA © 2016 / CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Ratajski said the session may discuss Poland's motion for inclusion of the Historic Silver Mine and Black Trout Adit in the historic ore-mining region of Tarnowskie Gory on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The meeting in Krakow will be attended by delegations from some 190 countries which are members or signatories of the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted in 1972.

Ratajski reminded that Poland's hosting of the session was connected with its takeover of the World Heritage Committee chair. Designated for the seat is professor Jacek Purchla, an outstanding conservationist and longtime head of Krakow's International Culture Centre.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee consists of 21 members elected for a 6-year term and meets at least once a year. Poland resumed its membership in 2013 after a single shortened term immediately after the Committee's ratification (1976-78).(PAP)

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