Turkey elected to UNESCO World Heritage Committee

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

This photo shows the 36th World Heritage Committee in St Petersburg, Russian Federation in 2012. UNESCO photo

Turkey has been elected as a member of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee for the new term between 2013 and 2017, the foreign ministry has announced.

A total of 12 members, including Turkey,  were chosen for the committee from among 21 candidates, during the 19th General Assembly of States Parties, which is currently being held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
 
The other elected countries are Croatia, Finland, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, and Vietnam.
 
The Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of UNESCO's World Heritage Fund, and allocates financial assistance.
 
It also has the final say on whether a property is included on the World Heritage List, and examines reports on the state of conservation of properties on the list and asks for action to be taken when properties are not being properly managed. It also decides on the inclusion or exclusion of properties on the World Heritage in Danger list.