“The letter says that since the CHTO recently filed a lawsuit against the owners of the tower and the Isfahan Municipality at an Iranian court, it would be appropriate if UNESCO granted a respite to the CHTO until the court issues its verdict,” Abdorrasul Vatandust added.
At the 28th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, held on July 1, 2004 in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhoui, the committee called for the modification of the Jahan-Nama Tower, which has spoiled the horizontal view of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square, a complex of monuments registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.
The committee set a deadline of February 1, 2005 for modification of the Jahan-Nama Tower, threatening to place the historic square on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger. But the deadline was extended for two weeks, during which time the CHTO filed the lawsuit.
Covering 16,000 square meters in area, the 56-meter Jahan-Nama Tower is located west of Naqsh-e Jahan near the Darvazeh-Dowlat neighborhood.
UNESCO determined that the height of the tower on its eastern side should be reduced by 12 meters and the height of its western side by 24.48 meters.
Public opinion, particularly in Isfahan, is against the Jahan-Nama Tower owners, because the people know that Iran’s cultural standing in the world will be diminished if the monument is added to the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger, Vatandust said in conclusion.
MMS/HG
End
MNA
Your Comment