22 June meeting begin with Lesotho's Sehlabathebe National Park (extension of "uKhahlamba / Drakensberg Park) a mix site, the main issue is the Sun Rock Arts in the site, since there is no mission to study those rock arts for a while so ICOMOS need more study to confirm criteria from present lack of information, for natural value IUCN think it is a good attribute to the existing site in South Africa. Many states think it is OK for both cultural and natural value as it is an extension of landscape of similar uKhahlamba rock arts, while many states want more specific study on rock art location. South Africa supports the nomination by said that the border line is the product of colonial time, and if there is no colonial borderline, both sites would be inscibe since Drakensberg nomination. ICOMOS position is they don't want to inscribe at this moment as of certain important rock art sites may be located in buffer zone not the core zone, but most of WHC decide to APPROVE both cultural and natural OUV. This is the first site of Lesotho.

Yes, the first WHS for Lesotho is a fact. They are very happy and emotional...

The next one is Pimachiowin Aki, Canada, a very interesting site of boreal forest in Manitoba and Ontario that 5 groups of First Nations want to inscribe to show the sample of indegenious culture interact with nature but don't want to say their site is exceptional! ICOMOS is struggle to evaluate OUV, and forseen that there will be more similar case so ICOMOS need more discussion to solve problem by mission and WHC, in current draft ICOMOS decided to DEFER and has concern on boundary and management. For natural value, IUCN also faced similar problem of OUV recognition and go with deferral too. WHC want to mitigate the problem as this is the first site to of such kind, and the necessity of the site to be exceptional for OUV definition may be a problem. All dilemma will postpone to next year, but today DEFER. 　　

I really love how they celebrate, very African way.

Quite civilized "discussion". The committee members seem less passionate than last year. Maybe they got a warning to behave in front of the camera's.

Then Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani RiceTerraces, China, the big valley of rice terraces by Hani people including forests and villages in southern Yunnan, an easy choice to recommend for ICOMOS and WHC go with INSCRIBE. This year Chinese got 2 WHS again. Lunch break may be red rice from Hani will be serve for WHC :P

One interesting fact
Syria has most whs(6) among the countries having only whs in danger suppressing congo (5 sites) .Only Afghanistan is other country having more than 1 whs.other country having only 1 whs are belize, Guinea,Palestine,Solomon Islands

I am working on the pages for the new WHS now. If somebody has photos that I can use for Hani Rice Terraces, Tajik NP or Xinjiang Tianshan, please e-mail me....

Fujisan, Japan, the iconic symbol of Japan, the main discussion is the Miho no Matsubara Pine Grove viewpoint which is located very far from Mt. Fuji to be include or not as recommended by ICOMOS, WHC most want to include the view point too as visible connection. WHC decided to INSCRIBE the site with Miho no Matsubara Pine Grove. The room was incredibly full with Japanese media to report when the chairman adopt the agenda, and the number of people watching online is almost double!

The sole nomination for Arab this year Al Zubarah Archaeological Site, Qatar, this was a referral site from last year. This abandoned port of call in the Gulf Region has no enough comparative study but ICOMOS suggested to inscribe the site for its exceptional long history, so here go another INSCRIBE. 　　

It is the time for al zubbarah.I hope it will be inscribed easily

Al Zubarah Archaeological Site was refered previous year'but they came with fine change and icmos recommended for inscription.

It is interesting to have an aerial view of the site to realize its importance. Use Google maps: "Zubarah Town ruins".

or : http://www.gulf-times.com/Mobile/Qatar/178/details/355169/Museum-planned-near-Zubarah -Fort

The first cultural site of Europe University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia, Portugal, Columbia want it to be inscribe, many states recognized its OUV for the world of Portuguese speakers and its intellectual role in Portuguese Empire and interesting Salazar era. ICOMOS still has some questions on legal protectionframework and buffer zone, and some states have question on the criteria (vi). Portugal informed that all protection measure and expert team to study visual impact for future buildings have been established, all legal matters are approved, and if become WHS, all buildings will automatically become listed heritage. The statement is well recieved and WHC agreed on INSCRIBE including criteria vi.

Back to Africa Zoma de l'Isandra, Madagascar ICOMOS think need more comparative study and need more protection before the site can establish OUV. But Senegal are not agree with ICOMOS and want to refer the site, ICOMOS and France agree to set mission project to help the nomination, but WHC is in dilemma of referral or deferral. Japan reminds the comittee that deferral is better to give more time for Madagascar to work, and France comments that they cannot work in the short period of time. India concerns on unbalance of Arab and Afican nominations, and by referral is the way to encourage Africa with more confidence. Finally Acting Chairman compromises all WHC with REFER, a nice diplomat work.