On January 4, the Ministry of Culture sent the “Roșia Montană Mining Cultural Landscape” file to UNESCO for inclusion in the World Heritage List.
The submission of the Roșia Montană file to UNESCO finalizes a process that began in 2011 and continued during the mandate of the Government led by Dacian Cioloș, by adding Roșia Montană to Romania’s UNESCO Tentative List in February 2016, according to the ministry’s website.
The exceptional value of Roșia Montană is recognized and affirmed by an unprecedented number of groups, institutions, and specialist organizations from the country and abroad in the field of heritage research and protection, including ICOMOS, UNESCO’s advisory body for evaluating cultural sites proposed for inclusion in the World Heritage List.
Once the exceptional value of a site is identified, Article 4 of the World Heritage Convention imposes the obligation to initiate procedures for the protection of that site, and its inclusion in the World Heritage List is the first step in this regard. International recognition of the universal value of national heritage is part of the duties imposed by Romanian law and the UNESCO convention signed by Romania.
Currently, Romania has six cultural positions and one natural position in the UNESCO World Heritage List: the churches with exterior paintings in Moldavia, Horezu Monastery, villages with fortified churches in Transylvania, Dacian fortresses in the Orăștie Mountains, the historic center of Sighișoara, the wooden churches of Maramureș, and the Danube Delta.
Between February and August 2017, the technical evaluation of the file will take place; in September 2017, a field evaluation visit of the nominated cultural landscape will be organized; and in July 2018, the analysis will be conducted in the World Heritage Committee, and a decision regarding the inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List will be made.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the Roșia Montană UNESCO submission?
It marks the final step in a long-term effort to gain international recognition and protection for the site’s unique mining cultural landscape, a process that began in 2011.
Which organizations support the inclusion of Roșia Montană in the World Heritage List?
Numerous specialist groups and institutions, most notably ICOMOS, which is UNESCO’s official advisory body for cultural heritage.
When will the final decision on Roșia Montană’s UNESCO status be made?
Following technical evaluations and field visits in 2017, the World Heritage Committee is scheduled to make a final decision in July 2018.