UNESCO will support an inclusion of the Bashkir Urals Biosphere Reserve in the World Heritage List

Bashkortostan delegation headed by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government RB Liliya Gumerova visited UNESCO headquarters in Paris on March 27-28.

As reported by the Committee RB for UNESCO Affairs, Liliya Gumerova met with the Deputy Director-General for External Relations and Public Information Eric Falt, Director of the World Heritage Centre Kishore Rao and experts of the organization. The parties discussed the implementation of activities under the bilateral communiqué signed by the President RB Rustem Khamitov and UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova following the results of Bashkortostan presentation at UNESCO headquarters on October 1-2, 2013.

Issues regarding a visit by Irina Bokova of cultural heritage and educational institutions in the republic on the invitation of the President of Bashkortostan were discussed.

During the meeting of Liliya Gumerova with the Director of the World Heritage Centre Kishore Rao, as well as several experts from UNESCO, the parties agreed to continue mutual close preparations of Bashkir nomination - Bashkir Urals Biosphere Reserve for inclusion in the World Heritage List. Kishore Rao confirmed that in case of request from the Russian part, UNESCO would recommend and assist in engaging technical experts from the Advisory Bodies of the World Heritage Committee (ICOMOS and IUCN ), which would be able to evaluate the potential of the Bashkir object on site and consult Russian specialists in preparation of appropriate materials for the nomination dossier.

However, Mr. Rao recommended continuing working relationship with a group of senior professionals, which accepted the invitation to visit Bashkortostan as an expert mission in July. According to him, their familiarity with the subject and its support can be an important step in further promotion of the Bashkir natural and cultural monument.