WORLD HERITAGE LIST
Nowadays it is recognized by nearly the whole world that cultural and
Natural treasures do not belong just to the countries in which they are located but are
instead the priceless and common property of all humanity.
The question of specially protecting such treasures against the dangers
that threaten them became a matter of concern for UNESCO in the 1970's and work to that
end was then begun.
As a result of its efforts, a Convention concerning, the Protection of
the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted in 1972 by the countries that were
UNESCO members. A hundred and seventeen countries are now signatory to this convention,
which alms at identifying, safeguarding, and restoring this heritage. Turkey became a
party to the agreement in 1983.
A World Heritage Committee, consisting of 21 member nations, has been
set up to oversee implementation of the convention. One-third of this committee's
membership is renewed at the UNESCO general conference held every other year.
The committee has three principal duties:
- It identifies cultural and natural assets that possess extraordinary and universal value
and need to be protected within the framework of the convention's provisions by making
selections from candidates put up by member nations and it adds it then to the World
Heritage List.
- It decides which of the entries on the World Heritage List are to be included in the
List of World Heritage in Danger.
- It determines the conditions and form of use of the World Heritage Fund.
Turkey, a land bridge joining the Asian and European continents, is
richly endowed with a cultural mosaic of the various civilizations that have inhabited the
soil of Anatolia since 8000 BC and with matchless natural beauties. The Hattis, Trojans,
Hittites, Hurrians, Urartus, Phrygians, Lydians, Carians, Lycians, Ioinans, Greeks,
Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans who dwelt in Anatolia in different eras all left
behind countless exquisite works. These works are the common heritage of human history.
Turkey has signed the World Heritage Convention in 1983 and through the
work carried out under the responsibility of the General Directorate for the Preservation
of Cultural and Natural Heritage has so far registered 9 locations on the World heritage
List.
Other sites which are new candidates and for which documentation is still
in progress are Ephesus and Karain Cave.
 1985 Historic Areas of Istanbul
1985 Göreme National Park and the Rock
Sites of Cappadocia
1985 Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği
1986 Hattuşaş
1987 Nemrut Dağı
1988 Xanthos-Letoon
1988 Hierapolis-Pamukkale
1994 City of Safranbolu
1998 Archaeological Site of Troy
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