Skopje, 8 July 2025 (MIA) - The Government at its session on Tuesday has reviewed the report and tasked all members of the institutions currently attending the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, in a coordinated approach, to jointly submit an amendment with the aim of withdrawing the Committee's draft decision requesting that the Ohrid region be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Speaking at Tuesday's press conference to announce the Government's decision, Minister of Culture and Tourism Zoran Ljutkov pointed out that the public must know the truth that this decision is a direct consequence of years of neglect, irresponsibility and institutional collapse that, he noted, was left behind by the previous government in the 2017-2024 period. 

"The current report refers precisely to this period of SDSM and DUI rule. In those seven years, not only was almost nothing undertaken from UNESCO's recommendations, but instead of protection, we saw ignoring of expert reports and systematic destruction. Every day, as a Government, we are faced with historic decisions, not only to stop the destruction, but also to save and restore everything that others have neglected," said Ljutkov. 

He stressed that the Government is working with commitment and in coordination with all competent institutions to show that it knows how to treat cultural heritage differently and that it has the capacity to respect the recommendations of this international body for Ohrid and the Ohrid region.

At its 47th session taking place in Paris on July 6-16, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has requested that the Ohrid region be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

In its draft decision, the World Heritage Committee says the inadequate enforcement of regulations and the limited implementation of conservation actions continue to leave the region in a highly vulnerable state.

"The 2024 Reactive Monitoring mission confirmed this severe extreme vulnerability," it says. North Macedonia's efforts to reduce and remediate adverse impacts remain slow, leading to "irreversible degradation," it adds.

In the document, the World Heritage Committee concludes that "cumulative and ongoing impacts – including urban development, spatial planning deficiencies, inappropriate interventions, eutrophication of the lake, large-scale infrastructure, and other projects – have caused serious deterioration of the key attributes conveying the property’s outstanding universal value, resulting in irreversible degradation unless decisive action is taken."

In line with UNESCO's operational guidelines, it adds, the conditions for the Ohrid region's inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger have been met.

Photo: print screen