Experts outline plans for preservation of Bamiyan Buddhas World Heritage site

Afghan officials and international experts outlined plans for the future safeguarding of the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of Bamiyan Valley (Afghanistan) at the end of two meetings at UNESCO in Paris from 2 to 4 March. The meetings were held on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the tragic destruction of the giant Buddha statues of Bamiyan.

Afghan officials and international experts outlined plans for the future safeguarding of the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of Bamiyan Valley (Afghanistan) at the end of two meetings at UNESCO in Paris from 2 to 4 March. The meetings were held on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the tragic destruction of the giant Buddha statues of Bamiyan.

After hearing proposals for remedial measures and the future presentation of the two Buddha niches from international teams of experts from Germany, Italy, and Japan, the participants, including the Afghan Minister of Information and Culture, the Minister for Urban Development Affairs and the Governor of the Bamiyan Valley, agreed that:

- A total reconstruction of either Buddha sculpture is not to be considered for the moment in view of the scientific data presently available, and according to the best estimates of available resources against cost.



- The larger western niche will be consolidated and left empty as a testimony of the violence that occurred, while a feasibility study may be undertaken to determine whether or not a partial reassembling of fragments of the eastern Buddha could be an option in the coming years.



- There is a need to construct a central museum in Bamiyan and smaller site museums within the Landscape in order to preserve and display findings from the valley within the World Heritage property.



- Work needs to be pursued to safeguard and preserve the entire cultural landscape of Bamiyan Valley with due regard for all the archaeological and architectural components necessary for the future development of Bamiyan.



- A master plan needs to be developed in close collaboration with the local authorities to serve as reference for all future interventions.

Since 2003, when the Cultural Landscape and Archaoelogical remains of the Bamiyan Valley were inscribed on the List of World heritage in danger, UNESCO has led a three-phase preservation plan for the property. Its focus has been to safeguard what remained after the intentional destructions of the Buddha statues and to render the site safe, notably by carrying out a complex demining operation of the site.

The 2011 Expert Working Group meeting concluded that the World Heritage site is potentially ready to be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger by 2013. This conclusion was reached upon examining progress made to address security; structural stability of the remains of the two standing giant Buddhas; conserve the Archaeological Remains and Mural Paintings; and implement the property’s Management Plan and the Cultural Master Plan.

Participants at the meetings further concluded that, with the tragedy of the destruction now behind us, Bamiyan Valley - with its unique history, tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and local communities - constitutes a fertile environment for learning how to transform a destructive act into an opportunity to reinforce tolerance, peace and development through culture for future generations.

The International Forum ‘Towards Cultural Rapprochement and Tolerance’ organized by UNESCO on 2 March 2011 reaffirmed the vitality of cultural heritage and its tremendous potential to bring together cultures and promote tolerance.