Nations battle for UNESCO listings
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The annual battle for UNESCO World Heritage status began in Quebec City yesterday, with 41 countries seeking the accolade that will allow preservation of their site or, more cynically, the status that will lure increased tourism dollars.
The Nation has reported that five countries are applying for their first UNESCO listings; Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan, Papua New Guinea, San Marino and Vanuatu. In Asia applicants include Yemen for its Socotra Archipelago; Saudi Arabia for the al-Hijr archaeological site; Iran for the Armenian monastic ensembles; and, most controversially of all, the Cambodian Preah Videar temple complex. Cambodia is seeking recognition for its 1,000 year-old hilltop Hindu temple, but continuing rows with Thailand over the ownership of the site have blighted the UNESCO campaign. Preah Videar is officially in Cambodian territory (a claim Thailand disputes), but can only be reached from the Thai side of the mountainous border.
The UNESCO World Heritage list currently includes 851 sites of “outstanding universal value,” in 141 countries.
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