Istanbul to host UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee 2016 meeting

ANKARA

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee ended is 39th session in Bonn on July 8, announcing it will hold its next session in Istanbul, Turkey.

At the same session, Ambassador Gürcan Türkoğlu of Turkey has been named the committee’s chair for the 40th session, which will be held from July 10 to July 20 next year, the Turkish Foreign ministry said in a written statement released July 8.

“The city of Istanbul, which has a special identity with its historical background that has expanded over centuries and its multicultural structure, will be an ideal host in regards to human values that UNESCO defends,” the Foreign Ministry said, emphasizing UNESCO’s mission of transmitting world heritage to future generations and encouraging intercultural dialogue.

During the 39th session in Bonn over the past few days, the ancient city of Ephesus and Diyarbakır’s Fortress and Hevsel Gardens were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List following a vote.