The case of Erbil Citadel (my pet project) is an example of unexplainable turn. I have been corresponding this morning with a baffled journalist in Erbil, on why it was inscribed after all. There's just no reason. I spoke about an "Islamic axis" among the committee members, but they are a minority and none of the others did speak up.
WHC members were blinded by the hints of OUV (ancient civilizations, Assyrian, tell etc always seems to score) & seemed sorry for Iraq in general. But I think that everybody that has researched this site and visited it, knows the severe management problems and the lack of will or capability to turn it into something. A strict deferral, as proposed by ICOMOS, was the only right decision.
For committee members nowadays it is enough to have seen OUV: they believe the State Party will take care of the rest. Well, some State Parties just don't. |