UNESCO’s fourth chair opened in Istanbul

ISTANBUL

Irina Bokova (L) and Mustafa Aydın at the signing ceremony at Kadir Has.

UNESCO’s fourth Chair on Management and Promotion of World Heritage Sites was launched on Jan. 7 at Istanbul’s Kadir Has University.

“From the historic areas of Istanbul, to the Selimiye Mosque, to the rock sites of Cappadocia … each of these sites has special meaning for the people of this country … each is also part of the wider history of humanity,” said Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, at a signing ceremony at the university.

“This is the importance of this new UNESCO Chair on the Management and Promotion of World Heritage Sites – to develop innovative ways for community involvement in the sustainable management of sites and to enhance the capacities of management staff,” Bokova added.

“We are aiming to raise awareness on the management, protection and promotion of world heritage sites by using digital technology and methods,” said Mustafa Aydın, Kadir Has’ rector.

Bokova also said the way to manage cultural sites had changed dramatically in recent decades.
“The chair provides a timely platform to rethink how we view and manage culture, to adapt our tools to new tests,” she said.

“Today, we must protect sites against violence and conflict. We must mitigate the threats of climate change. Cultural sites provide an open book on the management of diversity, carrying lessons of positive globalization. All of this calls for new skills and approaches, and I can think of no better place than Turkey to take this forward,” Bokova added.