Iran treasure trove of history
UNESCO inscription a national asset: Official
So far, 27 of Iran’s historical and natural sites have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. So, in a way, they can be called global heritages because when a site is inscribed on the UNESCO list, global attention and support are directed towards the inscribed site. Being included on the UNESCO World Heritage List has numerous positive consequences and benefits. Just to name a few benefits, it is usually the case that the sites would attract more attention and would be better protected, tourism from within and without the country would increase, and the whole economy of the country would grow as a result. The two world wars, which resulted in the destruction and annihilation of many historical sites around the world, especially in Europe, led the Netherlands to propose to the United Nations after World War II that a law be passed to protect cultural and ancient heritages everywhere. The United Nations initially responded by adopting some protocols. As the scope of the war intensified in some parts of the world, the United Nations adopted another law, according to which any destruction of UNESCO World Heritage sites would be considered a war crime. This was a significant measure as destroying such sites had become a war tactic for culturally eviscerating certain regions. Increasing global awareness of the importance of global and natural heritages of nations, not only for those nations but for all humanity, led to the adoption of the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The spirit of this convention reflects a global belief in the irreplaceable and unique values of the sites inscribed on this list. More importantly, it further reflects a commitment and pact by the ratified countries to use all their capabilities to identify, protect, and introduce the inscribed natural and historical sites. In return for this commitment, all ratified states agree to support each other in overcoming the challenges and limitations of preserving and protecting these sites, based on the belief that cultural and natural heritages know no borders and are humanity’s future. Iran successfully inscribed two of its historical sites during the second UNESCO session in 1979, and for the first time that year, Meidan Emam (also known as Naqsh-e Jahan Square), Persepolis, and Tchogha Zanbil were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Due to the Iraqi-imposed war of 1980–1988 and other issues, there was a 24-year hiatus until the inscription of another Iranian site. Then, Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization picked up the slack, and the inscription of Iranian sites accelerated. In 2003, Takht-e Soleyman was inscribed by Iran on the World Heritage List, and since then, one historical site or area has been inscribed by Iran on the list every year. To delve deeper into the significance of inscribing Iran’s rich cultural and natural treasures on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Iran Daily conducted an interview with Abdolmahdi Hemmatpour, advisor to the head of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Research Institute.
By Sadeq Dehqan
Staff writer
IRAN DAILY: What significance does the inscription of tangible and intangible cultural and natural heritages hold? How does the inscription of Iran’s cultural and natural heritage sites impact the country’s global standing and reputation?
HEMMATPOUR: Inscribing sites on the World Heritage List enshrines the country’s national wealth and prestige. The more inscriptions your country has on the list, the more cultural and historical value and prestige it accrues in the world. Inscribing sites on the UNESCO list is considered a national asset and has a significant impact on tourism development. The countries with the most inscribed sites are undoubtedly the top tourist destinations in the world. Iran is among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of tangible and natural heritage.
The inscription of Iranian sites on the list conveys a beautiful image of its civilization and culture to the world. This is an area where Iran has the upper hand and can showcase its many heritages.
When a site is inscribed, it belongs to the global community, and the global community considers itself responsible for preserving and protecting it. Afterward, people in that country naturally also make more efforts to preserve, protect, and introduce the site. Moreover, the site causes a sense of pride and national honor for the people of that country, especially the youth, and plays a significant role in strengthening national unity.
The global recognition of heritage sites is also an effective and efficient tool for the public diplomacy of a country in times of threats and sanctions. This is because cultural heritages have an added value that never ends and plays a role in establishing peace, strengthening relations, and curbing conflicts. Pursuing cultural diplomacy means all of the above. In the age of communication and expanding ties, inscribing sites reveals the real standing of a country and a nation.
How important is inscribing national sites to a government and its international status?
The main function of inscribing sites, which attracts the attention of many politicians, is to prove that their country has roots and has played a role in human history.
However, tourism and income generation are still the more important benefits of inscribing sites to the UNESCO list. Whenever a site is inscribed globally, it is automatically added to the list of domestic and international tourist destinations, which can bring significant financial benefits.
Educating the global community about a national site further boosts tourist arrivals to that site. International tourists feel almost obligated to visit a globally-recognized site nowadays. They search for an identity at such sites. So, inscribing a site, in a way, advertises it as a tourist destination. Meanwhile, the national authorities try to create the necessary infrastructure, such as improved access, transportation, and accommodations, to attract more tourists. Inscribing a site to the World Heritage List can make a destination or country a brand. Italy’s architecture, for example, has become a brand due to its dedicated effort at inscribing the most globally-recognized sites.
What is the difference between inscribing historical, cultural, and natural sites at the national and global levels, and what process should a national site go through to be inscribed on the global UNESCO list?
The difference between inscribing nationally and globally is that inscribing nationally means the site is important for the people and government of that country, while inscribing globally means the site is important for the global community. National inscription in Iran means the site has national and local importance and is included on the national list after being approved by the National Heritage Inscription Council. All global inscriptions of cultural and natural heritages are done under the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
Iran adopted the aforementioned convention in 1974. In the 1972 convention, several criteria are mentioned for evaluating cultural heritages and natural heritages. Sites that meet at least one of these criteria can be inscribed on the World Heritage List.
What economic and livelihood benefits does inscribing sites on the UNESCO list have?
Historical sites are the main destinations for tourists around the world. We know many countries that earn significant income from their cultural and historical sites, such as Egypt and Greece.
On the other hand, one of the problems many countries face is the lack of job opportunities. Some countries have used the fact that they are rich with cultural and historical sites effectively and created jobs for thousands of their people. Historical sites do not require government funding, but countries can create infrastructure and attract more tourists.
The local community can stand to gain the most from the global inscription of a site as it can cash in on the influx of tourists. Nationally, this leads to an economic boost. Small businesses can take off by selling local products, and with the distribution of income, the quality of life at the destination improves.
What responsibilities does a country have after inscribing a site?
One of the most important responsibilities of that country is to protect the inscribed site. The country that inscribes a site on the list promises to be the guardian of the site on behalf of the world. Therefore, when Iran inscribes its sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, it’s not just its Ministry of Cultural Heritage that is responsible for protecting the sites, but the Islamic Republic and the government are committed to protecting these sites.
If we fail to protect these sites, we will be held accountable. This level of commitment significantly increases the protection of these sites. When a site is inscribed globally, it’s like showcasing it in a global shop window. Today, when we mention China, we may immediately think of its Great Wall, and when we mention India, we may immediately think of its Taj Mahal. The same is true for Iran in the minds of the people of the world.